Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Mole leads to melanoma for Cal State-Fullerton student
By Nikki Clark
Daily Titan (Cal State-Fullerton)
06/19/2007

(U-WIRE) FULLERTON, Calif. — With summer looming right around the corner, the risk of getting skin cancer is increasing. A tan may seem appealing now, but if that tan turns into one of the million cases of skin cancer reported each year it may not seem so attractive, according to the American Cancer Society.

Kristy Lefler is a 21-year-old California State University-Fullerton student who appears happy and healthy. When she pulled up the sleeve of her shirt, however, a 6-inch long scar was revealed on both sides of her upper arm.

"I hate it. I wish I could make it go away," Lefler said.

The scar is a result, and her reminder, of her battle with melanoma.

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, according to the society.

Early detection is the best when it comes to skin cancer. The society recommends a self-exam once a month to check for irregularly shaped, colored or bordered moles.

When melanomas are not found in the earlier stages of development, they can grow deeper into the skin and spread to other parts of the body, according to the society.

Lefler's melanoma started out as a simple mole.

"I had it for as long as I can remember," she said, "but it started to grow and then it got a little shell over it."

According to the society, atypical moles are linked to a higher rate of recurring melanoma, and have at least three of the following characteristics: Diameter larger than five millimeters, redness, varied colors, irregular or ill-defined borders and a flat portion of the mole.

On Lefler's initial visit to her doctor, the mole was removed on the chance that it could be cancerous.

When the mole was biopsied, the results came back positive for cancer.

She then had to go back for treatment. Doctors removed all of the surrounding tissue down to the bone and tested her lymph nodes to make sure the cancer had not spread. Luckily for Lefler, her melanoma had not spread.

People at increased risk for skin cancer include people with fair skin, blondes and redheads, people who have had five or more sunburns, people with more than 30 moles, those who use tanning lamps and those with a family history of skin cancer, according to the society.

Lefler is both fair-skinned and a blonde and said she was constantly sunburned in her younger years.

With summer right around the corner, extra precautions should be taken.

Both types of ultra violet lights, UVA and UVB, can cause skin cancer, according to the society. Using a sunscreen of at least SPF 15, even in cloudy, foggy and rainy weather, helps prevent skin cancer caused by the damaging rays.

Wearing protective clothing, such as hats and sunglasses, and avoiding tanning beds, sunlamps and prolonged sun exposure are some precautions that should be taken, according to the society.

Lefler's mom, Peggy, said the worst part of the process was all of the uncertainty.

"It was hard to not know how bad it was, and if it would, or will, come back or not," she said.

Now when Lefler sees people who intentionally sit out in the sun to tan or go to tanning booths, it irritates her.

"They just don't understand what they are doing to themselves," Lefler said.

But the story isn't without its positive aspects. Lefler's experiences have not only awakened her to the dangers of skin cancer, but have also caused her to alter part of her normal routine.

"Now I hardly ever leave my house without sunscreen on," she said. "When I'm going to be outside I make sure there is shade or that I wear darker colors, things I never did before."

From all of this she said she is grateful for one thing:

"I am lucky it wasn't worse," she said.

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