Physician discusses importance of regular, thorough skin cancer checks.
In a syndicated column in the
(1/12), dermatologist Kenneth A. Arndt, M.D., of the Harvard Health Letter Editorial Board, wrote about the importance of regular, thorough skin cancer checks, particularly for people who have already had an incidence of skin cancer. According to National Cancer Institute guidelines, "basal cell patients should be examined every six months for five years and annually thereafter." During these examinations, which should take about 10 to 15 minutes, physicians "should be looking for signs of squamous cell skin cancer and melanoma, too." Dr. Arndt said that "the doctor should examine not just the sun-exposed areas, but the entire body, including the back, the scalp, and between the toes, because melanoma can first appear in areas not exposed to the sun." In addition, "the skin near the genitals and anus should...be inspected."
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