Home|Why should I get Mole Mapping photos done?

Why should I get Mole Mapping photos done?

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Melanoma, a form of cancer that begins in cells that make the pigment melanin, is one of the most dangerous cancer types and leads to thousands of deaths per year. According to the National Cancer Institute, ‘skin cancer is the most common cancer in the western world and the number of new cases of melanoma has been increasing for at least 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 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 skin exam by a health care professional qualified to diagnose skin cancer and 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 month ago. That is why having a photo documentation system for the accurate tracking of moles is so important.