How To Prevent Skin Cancer On Your Feet
When people think of skin cancer, they may think of suspicious moles on their face
, arms or chest, but one of the leading places cancer is commonly being found these days is on the feet. Malignant melanomas on the lower part of the body usually occur on the soles of the feet, in the spaces between the toes, and in the areas around the nails.
Men and women are equally at risk of getting skin cancer on their feet. Some of the risk factors include being Caucasian, having light skin and blue eyes.
Unfortunately, survival rates are dramatically lower when melanoma is found on the foot. For one reason, it often goes unnoticed until there is a serious problem. When not caught in the early stages the fatality rate is about 50% within 5 years of diagnosis.
Foot and ankle doctors say that routine self examinations of the feet are an important way to find skin cancer early, when it's easiest to cure. if melanoma is detected in the earliest stages before it spreads, studies have shown that 92 percent of patients are alive after five years.
The next time you trim your toenails, give your feet a good inspection. Here are some tips:
Check any moles or discolored patches looking for changes. And don't forget your toenails! Yes, melanoma skin cancer can form underneath your toenails. As awkward as it might seem to check the soles of your feet, the 3 most common areas to find skin cancer are soles of feet, between toes and under toenails. If you're in your 50s or older, make checking your feet a regular routine because this is the prime time for melanoma to develop. Pay special attention to the soles of your feet, and be suspicious of any mole or freckle found on the sole of your foot.
Not all moles are cancerous. However, according to dermatologists, moles and freckles are not commonly seen on the soles of the feet. So if you spot one, it should be checked out immediately, because they tend to spread quickly, grow rapidly, and often result in death.
A common sign of melanoma is a change in the appearance of a mole. Ordinary moles are usually are evenly colored (brown, black, tan), round "spots" on the skin. They can be present at birth, or they may appear at any time during a person's life, often after periods of sun exposure. Most are small (less than 6 millimeters in diameter). They do not change in size or shape, although they may fade somewhat in older individuals.
Melanoma usually begins as an abnormal mole. To distinguish a normal mole from a melanoma, doctors have developed the ABCD rule. According to this guide, the following features characterize melanoma:
Asymmetrical lesions Border irregularity Color variation Diameter greater than the size of a pencil eraser
Not all melanomas have features defined by the ABCD rule, so any new, colored growths, or changes in existing moles or lesions should be reported to a doctor as soon as possible. Skin cancer rarely is painful, so do not wait to call a foot doctor if the lesion does not "hurt."
by: Dr Alireza Khosroabadi DPM
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