surgeons’ expertise also is sometimes
required when the necessary surgery is
extensive or can substantially affect a
patient’s appearance. According to Charles
N. Verheyden, MD, PhD, “We operate on
10 to 15 patients per week.”
Sometimes, a patient may be too
elderly or weak to undergo surgery. “We’ll
refer the patient to radiation oncology for
radiation treatment instead of, or in
addition to, surgery,” says Dr. Butler.
MELANOMA
ASYMMETRY
Draw an imaginary line through the
center of a mole. If the two halves do
not have the same shape, the mole is
asymmetrical and suspicious of melanoma.
Symmetrical
Asymmetrical
Even edges
Uneven edges
One shade
Two or more shades
Smaller than 6mm
Larger than 6mm
BORDERS
Suspicious moles have irregular,
or jagged, borders.
COLOR
Suspicious moles have several shades
of color.
DIAMETER
A suspicious mole will be greater than
6 millimeters in diameter, or the size
of a pencil eraser.
You should see a dermatologist to examine any mole that has
changed in any way. “Anything that is new, dark, growing and
is causing any sort of scabbing or crusting really needs to be
evaluated by a dermatologist,” says Dr. Butler.
Photos: National Cancer Institute
The most deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma most often
appears as a mole. Any changes in a mole could indicate melanoma.
To check if a mole might possibly be melanoma, follow the ABCDs:
Innovation in skin
cancer research
In the January 2009 issue of the clinical
journal Dermatologic Surgery, Scott &
White physicians published the results of a
study that evaluated whether a medicated
cream called Imiquimod (also known as
Aldara) used prior to surgery would reduce
the size of basal cell carcinomas on the
nose. The cream already had proven
successful in reducing the size of these
types of cancers elsewhere on the body.
The Scott & White study found a success
rate of only 42 percent for treating tumors
on the nose. While the team concluded
the cream would not be helpful in
reducing the wound size or the amount
of reconstructive surgery needed, this
information proved valuable to specialists
in the treatment of skin cancer as they
planned their own strategies to help
patients. The study confirmed that surgery
with microscopic control of the margins
remains the best treatment for cancers of
the nose.
Another study now is underway that
involves the collaboration of many
Spring 09 THE CATALYST
27