DigitalDerm, Inc - Am I at risk?

Saving people from melanoma
one patient at a time

Are You at Risk for Melanoma?

Melanoma basics

According to the American Cancer Society, cancer of the skin is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma is much less common than other skin cancers, but it is the most serious type.

Melanoma accounts for about 4 percent of skin cancer cases, but it causes over 75% of skin cancer deaths. The number of new cases of melanoma in the United States is on the rise. The American Cancer Society estimates that yearly there will be 60,000+ new cases of melanoma in this country. About 8,000 people will die of this disease each year.

Are you covered with moles, or do you just have a few? What do they look like? The first sign of melanoma is often a change in the size, shape, or color of a mole. Melanoma can also appear on the body as a new mole—and you do not need to have a lot of moles to be at risk for melanoma.

Melanoma affects all age groups. It is one of the most common cancers in young adults; especially young woman ages 20 to 29. Melanoma also is more prevalent in people with fair skin. While having dark skin lowers the risk of melanoma, it does not mean that a person with dark skin will never develop it. No one is without risk. Other risk factors include:

Family history of melanoma
History of abnormal moles known as dysplastic nevi
Previous case of melanoma, or
Numerous normal moles known as melanocytic nevi

If you are at risk, it is very important that you have a doctor check your skin on a regular basis. You should also examine your skin at home regularly and report any changes to your doctor immediately.

For more information, go to our Insurance: Total Body Photography Coding section.

Saving people from melanoma one patient at a time

Are You at Risk for Melanoma?

Melanoma basics

Saving people from melanoma
one patient at a time