Looking into the mirror, I rub a spot on my nose. Ugh! It is getting bigger. Because I’m a vain person, I FINALLY decided that it is time to call a dermatologist. That always sound easier than it is. I always put off going to the doctor because I don’t know WHO is a good doctor. It is times like this that I LOVE social media. A couple of my friends on Facebook HIGHLY RECOMMENDED one doctor, so there’s nothing stopping me now.

At the appointment, something unexpected happened. The spot that I was sooo concerned about turns out to be nothing, BUT after further examination, there were three spots that raised red flags. What?! The “moles” weren’t red or raised up. They were just dark, black dots, which I actually never noticed. The nurse took a biopsy of these three spots, and the waiting begins. One week later, I received “the call.” The nurse says, “Do you have a minute?” Oh, no! “One spot came back fine. It is just a regular mole…” Whew, that’s a relief. “…but, the two other spots came back at moderate atypical cells (Dysplastic Nevi.) We will need to treat you as soon as possible, as these cells could lead to melanoma.”

I am stunned. I mean, I had no idea. I would have never thought that my olive, easy-to-tan skin would EVER have a problem like skin cancer. I am just being honest here, BUT I was so ignorantly wrong, and I am here to own up to it. Skin cancer does not discriminate against ethnicity or race. I am thankful for Karen and Angela for recommending this doctor. I am thankful to have insurance to see a specialized physician, who takes this seriously. I have learned a lot about skin in the last week, so I hope I can share some helpful information to you.

Did you know that in the U.S. 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in the course of their lifetime? If that doesn’t grab your attention then there’s this one: one person dies from melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – every hour.

It is because of statistics such as those the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has deemed the month of May as Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month®. It’s all part of a plan to encourage the public to learn more about this deadly form of cancer, as early detection is such a key to fighting it. The AAD has also started the how to SPOT Skin CancerTM campaign as well as way to educate the public on this topic. The campaign aims to save lives by emphasizing the importance of early detection.

The AAD has developed an easy five-step rule dubbed the ABCDE rule, which briefly outlines what to look for on the early warning sign front for skin cancer:
A – is for Asymmetry: One half of the mole does not match the other half.
B – is for Border irregularity: The edges are ragged, notched or blurred.
C – is for Color that varies from one area to another. The darker to black, the more concerning.
D – is for Diameter: While melanomas are usually greater than 6mm (the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, they can be smaller.
E – is for Evolving: A mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color.

The AAD also encourages do-it-yourself full-body checks once a month to help you detect a suspicious spot early enough to, simply stated, potentially save your life. Check out their mole chart that includes what they call a Body Mole Map to help you check yourself or loved ones for suspicious spots. For more information on the free screenings being offered around the U.S. today visit SpotSkinCancer.com and also check out their section on the site that lists additional resources on skin cancer prevention and detection.