Melanomas

Summer is often the time we hear more about skin cancer—we’re told to avoid the sun if possible and always wear sunscreen when we are in the sun. But many people never think about their feet when they take preventative action, even though malignant melanoma (a serious type of skin cancer) can affect the legs and feet as well as other parts of the body.

Melanomas on the feet can occur in men and women, and while they usually develop in people over the age of 50, they can be found at any age. Lighter-skinned people are more likely to develop melanomas on sun-exposed areas of the body, but only one-third of African-American patients who have melanoma develop it on sun-exposed areas. In the African- American population, melanomas most often develop on skin that is not exposed to the sun, such as the foot and under the toenails. Early detection is extremely important since malignant melanoma can spread (metastasize) rapidly.

Since melanomas on the foot and ankle often go unnoticed during their earliest stage, routine foot examinations can increase the likelihood of diagnosing and treating malignant melanomas. During routine examinations your podiatrist will always look for moles, or “nevi,” which are usually evenly colored, round spots on the skin or even under the nails. Most are small and don’t change in size or shape. However, the doctor will carefully examine any moles that look “abnormal.” The podiatrist will use a common dermatological rule (the “ABCD” rule) to characterize the melanoma:

• Asymmetrical lesions
• Border irregularity
• Color variation
• Diameter greater than the size of a pencil eraser.

Skin cancer is rarely painful, so routine podiatric medical visits are important for anyone with questionable lesions on the feet. Other signs to watch for are changes in color or a mole that becomes raised from the skin. Malignant melanomas on the feet usually occur between toes, in and around the nails, and on the soles of the feet.

If you see something on your feet that may look like a melanoma, please call 309-661-9975 or visit our website to schedule an appointment to get it checked out.