Khloe Kardashian's Cancer Scare
- In 2016, Khloe Kardashian opened up about a skin cancer scare she had a few years ago when she found an abnormal-looking mole under her breast. She had a biopsy and the mole was non-cancerous.
- Atypical moles can be a sign of skin cancer, but that’s not always the case.
- It's recommended that you check your skin for suspicious moles once a month, and visit your physician if you believe something might be questionable.
In 2016, Kardashian opened up about a skin cancer scare she experienced a few years prior, when she found an abnormal looking mole located under her breast. She noticed that the mole looked different than others that were on her body, so she decided to check the internet for more information. After reading some information, she decided to visit her doctor to make sure the mole wasn’t cancerous as abnormal looking moles can be a sign of skin cancer. Fortunately, she received good news.
Read More"Now that I've gone through this, I am extra aware of my skin, body and moles,” Kardashian said. “I haven't had a problem in years, but wanted to share my experience with you so that if you notice something doesn't look right, you will take action and take care of your health!"
Dr. Cecilia Larocca explains how atypical moles don’t immediately mean you have skin cancer
Skin Cancer: A Breakdown
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancers in the United States, but there are different forms of the disease. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, affecting 100,350 adults annually. The disease 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.
The cancer is usually caused by dangerous, extensive amounts of sun damage to the skin, and can develop from an existing mole or appear as a pink growth on the skin. The disease can be caused by both outright exposure to the sun, and also tanning bed use. You're most likely to find melanoma on sun-exposed areas of skin such as your face, neck, arms, and legs. Surprisingly, you might also find them in places that have never been exposed to the sun such as the palms of your hand/soles of your feet, on your eyes or mouth, and even under your nails.
"Melanomas are the deadliest type of skin cancer, because they have a tendency to spread to other parts of the body, either through the lymphatics or the bloodstream," Dr. Anna Pavlick, a medical oncologist at NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet. "Most of the time, 90% of all melanomas are sun exposed…There is a very small subset, less than 10% of patients, who have a genetic or a familial link between pancreas cancer and melanoma."
Dr. Anna Pavlick explains explains the basics of melanoma
How to Protect & Check Your Skin
Experts have confirmed wearing sunscreen regularly is the best way to prevent skin damage and helps you decrease your risk of developing skin cancer. However, as we know, there are many sunscreen brands from which to choose. Dr. Snehal Amin, a dermatologist in Manhattan, says it's important to focus on ingredients rather than brands to determine which sunscreen is the best fit.
Another preventative measure you can take to catch skin cancer early, or to catch it before it spreads to other parts of the body, is to regularly check your skin. It's recommended that you check your skin at least once a month to make sure everything checks out, and visit your physician if you believe something might be suspicious. When checking your skin, there's a helpful guide to follow, and it's called the ABCDE system.
- Asymmetrical moles make sure the moles are equal on both sides
- Borders examine whether the edges of the moles are jagged, irregular, or not smooth
- Colors check if the there are different colors in the mole
- Diameter Measure the mole to see if it's larger than 6 millimeters
- Evolution The most important step in the process. Routinely check to see if the mole change over time, whether it's in color, size, shape, or it's itchy and painful.
Dr. Cecilia Larocca shares tips on checking your skin for cancer
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