The Importance of Early Detection in Skin Cancer

The sun is coming up earlier and setting later every day. And when that giant yellow sky orb peeks out from behind the clouds, we can’t help it: we want to be outside to feel the sun! It’s an almost primal urge. And yet, as Northeast Ohio’s premiere dermatology practice, you know what we’re going to say next: don’t forget to slather on the sunscreen because literally anyone can get skin cancer. No, it isn’t a fun topic, but awareness and vigilance can save your life!

The skin cancer statistics are stark: One in five people will develop some form of skin cancer before age 70, and if you’ve had five or more sunburns in your life, your risk for melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is double. The American Cancer Society estimates that 100,640 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma this year alone. And sadly, two people die from skin cancer every hour.

The good news in all of this? With skin cancer early detection, the 5-year survival rate is almost 99 percent! So, get educated, know how to detect skin cancer early, and get your skin checked regularly, so we can catch and treat any potentially cancerous lesions as quickly as possible.

Of course, melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, but any type of skin cancer can turn deadly if not promptly diagnosed and treated. Understanding the different types of skin cancer, checking your skin regularly, and knowing how to detect skin cancer early can give you the tools you need to protect yourself and those you love from this disease.

The first thing to understand is that when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun or a tanning bed, your skin cells react. Too much exposure can burn and damage your skin. Sometimes, this UV exposure will trigger abnormal growth in skin cells, which is how skin cancer starts. The most common three types of skin cancer include:

Basal cell carcinoma happens when basal cells in the outer layer of the skin become cancerous. Spots of basal cell carcinoma may look like flat scaly patches or shiny, raised bumps on the skin, often on the face, arms, chest, back, or legs—typically areas frequently exposed to the sun. This is the most common form of skin cancer.

The second most common form of skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, which makes the squamous cells in the middle layer of the epidermis grow out of order. Again, this occurs in areas that have significant sun exposure as well.

Although melanoma isn’t as common as the other two, it is the most dangerous because it can spread aggressively to other parts of the body if not stopped early. This skin cancer starts in the deeper, melanin-producing melanocytes in the skin (the cells that give us our skin color). Knowing what to look for here is important, as Dr. Arballo explains:

“It is important to look for anything “new” or “different.” This could include a rough patch, shiny bump, scaly nodule, or dark spot. Melanoma classically is very dark, sometimes even black, but there are even some melanomas that don’t have any pigmentation at all. That’s what makes it so crucial to go to your doctor if you ever find anything suspicious.”

In addition to these three main forms of skin cancer, rarer forms can also occur in some people, including:
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

• Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
• Merkel cell carcinoma
• Kaposi sarcoma
• Sebaceous gland carcinoma

Taken all together, skin cancer in its many forms is the most common type of cancer in America. It’s also the most easily treated if caught early.

“I have had many skin cancer patients for whom early detection made a significant difference in their outcome,” says Dr. Arballo. “Melanoma is particularly important to diagnose early as it can be deadly and require a large surgery to remove. I’ve also had many patients with skin cancer of the face, and early detection helps to keep their excision scarring as small and minimally noticeable as possible. Overall, I feel that early detection is beneficial in every skin cancer case, and that is what makes skin cancer screening and surveillance exams so valuable.”

Although absolutely anyone can develop skin cancer, early detection of melanoma skin cancer involves understanding your personal risk factors. People who have already had skin cancer in the past, or who have family members who have had skin cancer should be especially vigilant, as Dr. Arballo explains:

“People with a history of skin cancer need to be assessed at least annually, sometimes more often depending on the type of skin cancer and how long ago since they were diagnosed. When in doubt, ask your dermatologist when they recommend for you to be checked again.”

In addition to a genetic predisposition to skin cancer, check the following risk factors that could indicate a higher risk for skin cancer:

• Unprotected sun exposure
• You sunburn easily
• A light complexion
• Lots of freckles and moles
• People with red or blond hair
• People with blue or green eyes
• You’ve used tanning beds
• You live at higher altitudes or in a sunny climate
• You’ve taken immunosuppressing medications
• You’ve been diagnosed with actinic keratosis (a precancerous skin condition causing scaly, rough brown or pink patches).

Even if you don’t have any of these risk factors, skin cancer is still a risk. But if you can check some of those items off the list, you should take our skin cancer risk assessment quiz. Either way, protecting your skin from UV exposure and having regular skin checkups with your dermatologist is critically important.

“Everyone should be looking at all the skin on their body regularly,” says Dr. Arballo. “When you get out of the shower would be an easy time. You can even have a partner, family member, or friend you feel comfortable with help you check the hard-to-see and reach areas such as the scalp and back.”

That said, skin cancer early detection depends a lot on knowing exactly what to look for. The ABCDEs are a helpful tool you can use as you do self-checks at home:

Do you have an unusually-shaped spot with one area larger than the other?

Is the space between the spot itself and the rest of your skin ill-defined, scalloped, or irregular?

Melanomas can be quite dark; black or dark brown, for instance. But they can also be different shades of tan, blue, red, or even white. Spots with more than one color are concerning.

Is the spot any larger than the eraser on your closest pencil? Although size isn’t always a factor, in the presence of these other symptoms, it can be a concern. Also, if the spot has grown larger recently, you should have it checked.

If you have a spot that was the same for many years, but has started to change in any of these ways (change in size, color, symmetry, etc.) it’s time to schedule a SPOT check.

Although Dr. Arballo is new to Apex Dermatology, she has a long history of diagnosing skin cancer and saving lives with successful skin cancer surgery and follow-up treatment.

“I became interested in dermatology during medical school,” says Dr. Arballo. “I immediately took to it and wanted to learn as much as I could about the skin. I think some of my inspiration may have come from dealing with multiple skin challenges myself. I wanted to help people who suffer from skin conditions to get their health and confidence back. It’s not every specialty where you can see the difference you are making in people’s lives, and that makes dermatology very special.”

She cannot stress enough how important it is to be vigilant about checking your skin and having it checked by a dermatologist regularly. The sooner we can diagnose and treat the cancer, not only will that prevent the cancer from spreading, but scar tissue areas will be smaller as well.

“Early detection of skin cancer is key for improving morbidity and mortality and having a good cosmetic outcome with treatment,” says Dr. Arballo. “A delay in skin cancer diagnosis can allow cancer to spread to other parts of the body and can even lead to death. Also, the larger a skin cancer grows, the more difficult it is to remove without causing a significant wound and scar. Most skin cancers can be treated right in the dermatology clinic.”

In addition to constant vigilance by regularly self-checking your skin, having your partner check hard-to-see areas, and coming in for your regular full-body scans and SPOT checks if a lesion looks suspicious, prevention is crucial. The Mayo Clinic provides these specific skin cancer prevention techniques that everyone should follow:

• Try to stay out of the sun during the peak-UV hours of 10 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon, even on cloudy days.
• Always use sunscreen on exposed skin areas, at least to an SPF 30.
• Regularly reapply your sunscreen after two hours of wear, or more often if you’re sweating or swimming.
• Don sun-blocking clothing with a UPF of 50 or more.
• Wear a wide-brimmed sun hat with a UPF of 50 or more.
• Avoid tanning beds.
• Regularly check your skin, and if you see any changes or ABCDEs, schedule an appointment at Apex Dermatology immediately for a spot check.

The bottom line is this: Always have a dermatologist evaluate any concerning or unusual skin lesions as soon as you notice them and have a full body screening every year. If you see a spot that concerns you, schedule a “SPOT check”. We can usually get you in on the same day, or within 24 hours of your call at (833) 279-SKIN. If you have not had your regular full body screening yet this year, schedule one today.

Dr. Arballo urges patients not to be afraid to schedule that appointment, and not to wait: “Please don’t ever hesitate to seek professional evaluation of a suspicious skin lesion. As a dermatologist, we look at the skin all day, every day, and see thousands of skin lesions every year,” she explains. “If we cannot immediately identify your skin lesion by looking at it, we can perform a biopsy to make the diagnosis and give you peace of mind. Hopefully, we can provide reassurance that it is benign, but if it is skin cancer, it’s always best to catch it and treat it as soon as possible.”

Remember, when skin cancer is caught early, the chances of survival are excellent! Don’t be afraid to call us at (833) 279-SKIN right away for a same-day SPOT check appointment

Our passion is helping our patients stay confident, healthy, and skin cancer-free.

Dr. Arballo is a board-certified dermatologist practicing at Apex Dermatology’s Solon office. She was born and raised in Chagrin Falls, OH and completed undergraduate studies at Miami University of Ohio majoring in Zoology and minoring in Spanish. She then attended medical school in Erie, PA at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine where she was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. Dr. Arballo completed dermatology residency at San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium in San Antonio, TX. During residency, she was a Women’s Dermatologic Society mentorship grant recipient, performed research, lectured at the local and national levels, and was published in several well-recognized dermatology journals.