Mole Mapping
A safe, non-invasive way of skin cancer prevention. Why should I get mole mapping photos done?
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Melanoma is a form of cancer that begins in cells that create the pigment melanin, and is one of the most dangerous cancer types leading to thousands of deaths per year.
According to the National Cancer Institute, ‘skin cancer is the most common cancers in the United States and the number of new cases of melanoma has been increasing for the last 30 years. Melanoma is more likely to spread to nearby tissues and other parts of the body and can be harder to cure. Finding and treating melanoma skin cancer early may help prevent death from melanoma.
The National Cancer Institute highly recommends regular mole checks by your dermatologist.
The early detection of skin cancer delivers the best chances for survival. When melanoma is detected early by a physician, the cure rate is over 95% because it can be excised before it starts spreading to other parts of the body.
The ability to detect new moles and changes in existing moles is critical in the early detection process. The American Cancer Society states that, ‘part of a routine cancer-related check-up should include a detailed skin exam by a health care professional qualified to diagnose skin cancer. Many dermatologists use a technique called dermatoscopy (also known as dermoscopy, epiluminescence microscopy [ELM], or surface microscopy) to look at spots on the skin more clearly.
If you think about it, your physician likely sees thousands of moles per year on hundreds of patients, making it difficult to remember what your moles looked like six months ago. That’s why having a photo documentation system for the accurate tracking of moles is so important.
Frequently Asked Questions
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