Dr. Cranquis' Mumbled Gripes
(Disclaimer: Questions related to medical topics will be answered to the best of Dr. Cranquis' (and Google's) knowledge, but the internet-delivered wisdom on this blog CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT SUBSTITUTE for your Real-Life Doctor's personal attention + examination, and your own common sense too! If you think you're having a medical emergency, hang up and go email 911. The author of this blog takes no responsibility for any medical, relationship, scholastic, financial, or other decisions you may make based on information found in this blog.)
Fantastic! :)
“74% greater risk of melanoma among tanning-bed users”… Wow!
Winter is coming in the US — a time when many turn to tanning beds to “get their sunlight”. Just thought I’d remind you that it’s a BAD IDEA. Better to invest in a $70-100 “Light Therapy” lamp, to get all the Vitamin-D-stimulating effects of sunlight without all the melanoma-inducing effects of a tanning bed!
Guess I’ll start promoting “smoking for weight loss” then! Good grief… This is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
munnin Asks:
I have noticed your posts on skin cancer, and I had a question. I recently got my medical insurance back. (Yay!) Should I see a doctor about a few moles I have on my back? I made a big mistake and asked google about the signs of melanoma. I have EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM! I keep putting it off, because I am 23 and a single mother, the last thing I want to hear is I have the worst skin cancer there is.
I have a large mole on my lower back that I have had since I was a small child and it doesn’t bother me so much, it has changed shape a bit in recent years though. The one that concerns me is on my upper back and it itches…a lot. It’s rather small, but only been there a few years. And like I said looks like melanoma. I really didn’t put a whole lot of stock into google, until I saw an article that said another sign is a fleshy or clear colored small bump on the face usually around the nose, has little red vessels in it and grows back when removed. I have one of these next to my nostril in the crease. I removed it twice now and it keeps coming back…not to mention bleeds hell… I know I shouldn’t have done that but it’s really irritating to have there when I have really bad hay fever and my nose itches almost all the time. So there you have it, my paranoid self thinking I have cancer… My father also has moles all over his back, mostly on the top, which turns out is another sign of melanoma! So basically what do you think? How soon should I go to the doctor or should I even be worrying about it at all? A little more info: I have been sunburned A LOT in my life, once at a nudist resort…I fell asleep in the sun naked and everything from my scalp to my toes burned pretty badly… I’m not fair skinned, I am a quarter Sicilian and I take a lot after that side so my complexion is actually pretty dark and I have dark hair and eyes as well. Thanks for your help doc!
cranquis Said:
Hey there, friend —
When it comes to skin cancer, I never get upset at someone for googling up some pictures and descriptions for comparison. But I think you need to see a dermatologist. The moles deserve a good once-over, possibly some biopsies if the doc suspects anything based on how they look. Your history of multiple (and sometimes SEVERE) sunburns trumps your “pretty dark complexion”. Melanoma IS the “worst skin cancer there is” — but is also very easy to treat if you catch it early. Go have a skin doc check ‘em out and help put your paranoia to rest.
The bleeding recurrent “bump on your face” (at your nasolabial fold, from your description) doesn’t sound like melanoma to me. I’d be thinking basal cell carcinoma for that spot, since you’re describing it as a raised minimally-colored bump with “telangiectasias” (tiny blood vessels) on it. That form of skin cancer does NOT metastasize to other parts of the body, but if it’s not removed, it can really jack up the tissue around it. Another reason to see Le Dermatologist!
Good luck!
***Pending Cranquis-Mails: 7; Ask Box: Closed***
“74% greater risk of melanoma among tanning-bed users”… Wow!
I know it’s almost summer, and everyone (including myself) will be spending lots of time in the sun, but this is important to keep in mind.
The ABCDE’s of Skin Cancer Detection!
Dear 16 Year Old Me.
Please Watch
Well, if I’m gonna sit here and get all teary-eyed from watching a 5-minute melanoma-awareness video, then BY GEORGE YOU WILL TOO.
(via mysoulcanbreathe)
Anonymous Asks:
cranquis Said:
Uhh… good question, Lenticome Lentigo — I went and did some Google images research on distinguishing between lentigo, melanoma, and benign nevi, and the answer is: it’s not easy! If your “Obi-Gyn Kenobi” has lots of experience comparing those lesions, they might be able to tell just by looking at it. Otherwise, closer evaluation with a dermoscope, or through histology of a biopsy, might help. But the actual differentiating factors are way more complex than what I can go into here. If you want some nitty-gritty info about lentigo, you could slog through this Emedicine article, like I did.
***Pending Cranquis-Mails: 18***
Anonymous Asks:
I'm an 18 year old caucasian female =] and I got this weird vertical brown line appear on my little finger nail... (about a week ago, and it was only little at first but now it goes almost 2/3ds up my nail.) of course. I went to WebMD... which was probably not the best of ideas. 'Cause it said it might be a type of melanoma. What are the chances of this?!? Should I go see my doctor?! Or am I just overreacting.
Thank you so much in advanceeee. =]
cranquis Said:
Hi there, Mole Woman No Cry —
Yeah, you were probably reading about Acral Lentiginous Melanoma (ALM), which can grow under the finger/toenails. (Fun Fact: That’s what killed Bob Marley).
Now chances are that it’s just a subungual hematoma or splinter hemorrhage (a streak or collection of blood, which can happen spontaneously or after trauma) — but since ALM can affect even younger people, and since it can spread rapidly and be very nasty, you probably should have a doctor look at it, especially if it doesn’t go away soon. If it’s just a bleed under your nail, it should fade away within a week or two — so DEFINITELY see a doctor if it isn’t fading away by then!
(If you have a personal or family history of having lots of moles, or any skin cancers, go see your doctor or dermatologist ASAP.)
Best of luck!
***Pending Cranquis-Mails: Still 17?! Man, these questions are coming in hot and heavy tonight.***
