Did You Know Actor Ewan McGregor Had Skin Cancer Removed From His Face? Important Reminders as Summer Closes In

 

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He told U.K.-based news outlet BBC in a 2008 interview, "I just went to have them checked, you have to be careful if you're pale skinned and you spend time in the sun, with moles. So I went to see a specialist who thought they were better to be removed," the Daily Mail reported.

Doctors removed several moles. After the procedure, McGregor told The Daily Express, "I went to see a specialist who thought they were better to be removed and indeed he was correct."

What Are Common Skin Cancer Types?

Although we don't know the exact kind of skin cancer Ewan McGregor had, we do know basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinomas, and melanoma are the three most common types, according to the CDC.

According to the American Cancer Society, basal and squamous cell skin cancer are often found on "the head, neck, and arms" where the sun has the most exposure. About "5.4 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the U.S."

People who spend lots of time in the sun unprotected or use tanning beds are most at risk for basal and squamous cell skin cancers.

Like basal and squamous cell skin cancers, the chance of getting melanoma cancer increases with excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) like from the sun or tanning beds.

Mayo Clinic considers melanoma "the most serious type of skin cancer" but also less common. Melanoma starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. Only, in melanoma, the cells change in a way that makes them able to spread to other organs.

In the case of melanoma, your doctor will stage the cancer based on how deep it has gone into your skin.

• Melanoma in situ is a stage zero melanoma that's commonly found on the top layer of sun-damaged skin. It is highly treatable with surgical removal, and it does not usually invade beyond the skin or spread to other organs.
• Stage 1 melanoma is no bigger than the size of a sharpened pencil. It's easily cured by having a dermatologist remove it.
• Stage 2 melanoma has spread slightly deeper into the skin.
• Stage 3 melanoma has spread into the lymph nodes.
• Stage 4 is when the melanoma has reached other organs, like the lungs, liver, or brain.

Basal and squamous cell carcinoma are also staged depending on if the cancer has spread.

Knowing the stage and other characteristics of your cancer will help your doctor zero in on the right treatment for you.

How to Spot Skin Cancer

As Ewan McGregor said, it’s important to be aware of your skin. You should check your body for any unusual spots or moles on your skin at least once a month. Any spots on your skin that are new or are changing in size or color demand your attention.

WATCH: Get Your Moles Evaluated to Rule Out Melanoma.

Changes to a mole you've had for a while or a new growth on your skin could be signs of melanoma, according to SurvivorNet's experts. Though it's unlikely that these marks are cancer, you'll want to keep an eye on them and let your doctor know about any changes you do notice.

You're most likely to find melanoma on sun-exposed areas of skin, like your face, neck, arms, and legs. Surprisingly, you might also find them in places that have never been exposed to the sun, like:

• The palms of your hands or soles of your feet
• On your eyes or mouth
• Under your nails

SurvivorNet experts describe melanoma symptoms as:

• A sore that doesn't heal
• Color that spreads from the border of a spot to the skin around it
• Redness or swelling that goes beyond the area of a mole
• Itchiness, tenderness, or pain
• A change in the way the surface of a mole looks
• Scaliness, oozing, or blood

According to the American Cancer Society, the general appearance of basal and squamous cell carcinomas are:

Basal cell cancers:

• Reddish patches of raised itchy skin
• Firm, flat, pale, or yellow areas on your skin
• Small, pink, red, shiny, or translucent bumps
• Open sores that don't fully heal

Squamous cell carcinomas:

• Lumps
• Open sores that don't fully heal
• Growths that look like warts
• Rough scaly red patches of skin

When you check your skin, use the acronym ABCDE as your guide:

• Asymmetrical moles: If you drew a line straight down the center of the mole, would the sides match?
• Borders: Is the mole irregular or jagged?
• Colors: Are there multiple distinct colors in the mole?
• Diameter: Is the mole larger than 6 millimeters (mm), about the size of a pencil head eraser?
• Evolution: Has the mole's color, shape, or size changed over time?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, our experts say it's time to see your dermatologist for a skin check.

Other red flags to watch for are:

• A sore that doesn't heal
• Color that spreads from the border of a spot to the skin around it
• Redness or swelling that goes beyond the area of a mole
• Itchiness, tenderness, or pain
• A change in the way the surface of a mole looks
• Scaliness, oozing, or blood

How Is Skin Cancer Treated?

Common treatment options for skin cancers include:

• Surgery involves cutting out the cancerous cells and sometimes Mohs surgery is the procedure used. Mohs surgery removes skin cancer layer by layer until all the cancer is gone.
• Radiation therapy uses low-energy X-rays to target cancerous cells.
• Targeted therapy targets specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contribute to the cancer's development and growth.
• Cryotherapy freezes the cancer cells to kill them.

"The gold standard for treatment of melanoma is a surgical treatment with wide margins," says Dr. Nima Gharavi, Director of Dermatologic Surgery at Cedars-Sinai.

WATCH: Surgery is the Best Option for Melanoma.

Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer

As much as many of us enjoy spending lots of time in the sun during the spring and summer months, we must remember the sun can harm us. For most people, there are simple ways to significantly reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.

We asked dermatologist, Dr. Dendy Engelman, to provide the top five ways to protect your skin from skin cancer. Turns out, most of her recommendations are simple to follow and could save your life.

• Avoid sun during peak hours This means from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It doesn't mean you should never go outside during the middle of the day, but make sure you're protected when you do venture outdoors.
• Cover your skin and eyes A wide-brim hat and sunglasses will protect your face, the top of your head, your ears, and the delicate skin around your eyes.
• Wear an SPF of 30 or higher This is easy enough. Plenty of facial moisturizers have SPF built into them. Dr. Engelman also recommends reapplying every few hours, or after excessive sweating or swimming.
• Get an annual skin check You can check your skin for anything that looks out of the ordinary, but you should still get a yearly check to make sure you didn't miss anything. If you do happen to notice anything out of the ordinary in between checks, schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor about it ASAP it is always worth it to make sure.
• Avoid tanning beds This one is obvious … but just a reminder, tanning beds can significantly increase your risk of developing melanoma. If you feel like you're just too pale, Dr. Engelman recommends a sunless tanner. "There's absolutely no benefit to going to a tanning bed," Dr. Engelman said.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.