Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- Did you know the leading cause of cancer for men is melanoma? It makes it more important than ever to know the warning signs of this potentially deadly type of skin cancer.
In the past decade, the American Academy of Dermatology says the number of melanomas has increased by about nine percent in men over the age of 65. If it’s caught early, there’s a 99 percent cure rate. If the melanoma moves to an advanced stage, there’s an 85 percent chance the patient will die.
To watch for signs, remember A-B-C-D-E:
- A is for asymmetry – If you can take a lesion and cut it in half and the two sides don’t match, that’s a warning sign.
- B is for border – If a mole appears to have an irregular border, that’s a sign too.
- C is for color – Look for a mole that has two colors.
- D is for diameter – Moles that are larger than a pencil eraser have greater risk.
- And E is for evolving – If a mole appears to change over time, it’s also a sign something may be wrong.
