CentraState - Healthy Directions

A Watchful Eye on Skin Cancer Due to days of sunbathing in her youth and the presence of multiple moles on her body, 46-year-old Maria Brophy of Manalapan has always given her skin extra attention. Maria recently found that CentraState Medical Center’s MoleSafe program could provide an additional tool to help her and her dermatologist keep skin cancer at bay. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than 2 million people diagnosed each year. Even though the survival rate for melanoma—the deadliest form of skin cancer—is 99 percent when detected early, one person dies of melanoma each hour, which is why Maria is adamant about her skin check-ups. “I try to visit my dermatologist four times a year so he can monitor my moles and catch any changes as soon as possible,” Maria says. “He suggested that I use the MoleSafe program to establish a baseline and make keeping an eye on all my moles easier.” A Picture Worth More than a Thousand Words Maria went for her first visit in March 2012, which included a full-body assessment and MoleSafe melanogram. The melanogram includes a trained melanographer taking high-resolution clinical and dermoscopy images of multiple sections of the body and any lesions. The images are then sent to a board-certified dermatologist with specialized training to read images and assist in assessing and diagnosing any areas of concern. “I didn’t know what to expect,” Maria says. “But 170 pictures later, I felt comfortable knowing that a whole team is keeping an eye on my skin, and ultimately, my health.” Staying in Check After the exam, patients receive a general melanoma risk rating, which is forwarded to their physician, and a team member discusses skin safety and how to screen skin between visits. Patients are given a MoleSafe follow-up plan that explains when they should return for a check-up. At follow-up appointments, the pictures will be remade and sent to the specialists to ensure no changes have occurred. “It’s so important to keep an eye on your skin,” Maria says. “This program provides me with an additional tool to help ensure I stay healthy and cancer-free.” Put your health in your hands—schedule an appointment today by calling 1-877-MOLESAFE. For more information about MoleSafe, visit www.centrastate.com/molesafe or scan the QR code with your smartphone. HD “MoleSafe is an effective tool to combine with yearly skin checks by a dermatologist. Participating in MoleSafe can help you be your own health advocate.”—Dianne Errichetti, RN, MSN, CentraState’s Health Awareness Center

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