The ABCDE Approach for Melanoma Examination
How do you know if you have melanoma or skin cancer? In this article we will discuss how to examine your body using the ‘ABCDE’ approach of melanoma.
Melanoma is the third commonest invasive malignancy in Australia after breast and prostate cancer.
Melanoma is treatable
Checking your skin can help you find melanoma early when it is highly treatable. The earlier the better, both for the treatment and the survival prospects. Most people who develop a melanoma survive their malignancy.
See your doctor if ever you think you have a concerning skin lesion.
Examine your body for early signs of melanoma.
If you find a spot on your skin that could be skin cancer, it's time to see a dermatologist. A dermatologist can treat early skin cancer by removing cancer and a bit of normal-looking skin. If you need an expert consultancy, click here.
Melanoma can affect you anywhere on your skin – from your scalp, hands to the bottom of your feet. Even if the area gets only little sun, it is possible for melanoma develop there.
The best way to find melanoma on your skin is to examine yourself. Check any spots on your skin. Check everywhere - from your scalp (parting hair to check your entire scalp) to the spaces between your toes and the bottoms of your feet.
You and your partner can check each other’s hard-to-see areas (like your scalp and back).
Examining your body regularly will help you notice changes. Checking once a month can be beneficial. If you need more expert advice on how often you should check your skin, you can contact your doctor. ACCO trains doctors in the skills to diagnose and manage skin cancer.
How to check your own skin.
1. A full-length mirror
Looking into a full-length mirror helps check your back and sides.
2. Underarms, forearms, and palms.
Bend your elbows and look carefully at your forearms, underarms, and your palms.
3. Legs, toes and soles of your feet.
Look at the backs of your legs, feet, the spaces between your toes, and the soles of your feet.
4. A hand mirror can help you check your neck, scalp, back and buttocks.
A small mirror can be handy to check your own back, buttocks and the back of your neck. Even behind your ears is easier to see with a hand mirror.
The 'ABCDE' approach to recognizing an early melanoma.
Remember the ABCDE when looking at each of your skin lesions.
A – Asymmetry
Melanomas are often neither circular or oval in shape. Their shape may look like the map of a country. If you draw a line through the middle of the lesion, the two halves do not match. This irregular shape is described as asymmetry.
B – Border
Melanoma borders tend to be uneven and may have scalloped or notched edges. Sometimes the edge of a melanoma is abrupt next to normal skin. At other times, the melanoma may merge into skin. These two border features can happen in different parts of the one melanoma.
C – Colour
Multiple colors are a warning sign. While benign moles are usually a single shade of brown, a melanoma may have different shades of brown, tan or black. As it grows, the colors red, white, or even blue may also appear. The more colours in the skin lesion, the more concerning it is.
D – Diameter
It is a warning sign if a skin lesion is 6 mm in diameter or greater. Most harmless skin lesions are quite small.
E – Evolution
Has your skin lesion changed over several months? This is a concerning feature.
Harmless skin lesions often remain the same year after year. Inflamed skin lesions often change over days or weeks rather than over months.
Do doctors use ABCDE?
No. Doctors generally do not use ABCDE. This approach is handy for you to identify your lesions for the doctor to check.
Importantly, some melanoma skin lesions cannot be identified through ABCDE. A melanoma can be smaller than 5 mm in diameter. A melanoma can be circular and only have one colour. ABCDE is just a guide. It is not fool proof.
Your doctor will usually examine your skin lesions with a dermoscope. This is an instrument with magnification and a light source that reduces surface reflection. The doctor can detect the structure of the skin lesion under the surface.
This is how your doctor will determine whether your ABCDE concerns translate into a management decision. You skin lesion might need removal or a biopsy.
Alternatively, the dermoscope may assist your doctor to determine the skin lesion is not concerning.
Doctors and other health care professionals can learn more about skin cancer with ACCO (Australasian College of Cutaneous Oncology).
ACCO provides practical and theory-based training and education to improve and certify competency in the management of skin cancer. Our policy is that no pharmaceutical company shall be permitted to sponsor or endorse any event, function or workshop in any manner. This creates a truly unique and unbiased learning environment.
Learn more about skin cancer with ACCO (Australasian College of Cutaneous Oncology). ACCO provides practical and theory-based training and education to improve and certify competency in the management of skin cancer. Our policy is that no pharmaceutical company shall be permitted to sponsor or endorse any event, function or workshop in any manner. This creates a truly unique and unbiased learning environment
© ACCO 2021