What are the Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancer?
Senior Care in Reston VA: What are the Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancer?
June is Cancer from the Sun Month. This is the ideal opportunity for you as a family caregiver to learn more about skin cancer and the risk that your aging parent faces when it comes to exposure to the sun. One of the most important elements of awareness when it comes to cancer from the sun is the signs and symptoms of skin cancer. As with many other forms of cancer, early detection is critical to getting your elderly loved one on the course of care and management that is right for their needs, and giving them the best chances of getting through the condition in the healthiest way.
Some of the signs and symptoms of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, include:
- A spot, blemish, or mole on the skin that is asymmetrical or seems “irregular” in shape
- A mole, spot, or blemish that has a distinctly irregular border
- An area of the skin that is discolored in an uneven or irregular way
- A mole or spot that has gotten distinctly larger or is bigger than a pea
- A spot, blemish, or mole that has changed in some way over the course of a few weeks or a few months
The skin changes that can be early indicators of skin cancer can be very subtle and you may not feel that you can adequately correspond those changes to one of the symptoms. If you notice anything about your parent’s skin that seems unusual or that concerns you, do not hesitate to get in touch with your parent’s doctor so that they can get a proper examination. Keep track of what you are concerned about and any changes that you might have noticed so that the doctor can have as much information as possible.
Starting senior care for your aging loved one can be one of the best decisions that you can make for them in the course of your caregiver journey with them. A senior home care services provider can be with your aging loved one on a fully customized schedule that is tailored not just to their individual needs, challenges, and limitations, but also their desire to live an active, engaged, and independent lifestyle as they age in place. Through a highly personalized set of services, this care provider can help your parent manage their needs while also supporting them in finding fulfillment and meaning in this new chapter in their lives. When it comes to helping them to remain healthier, this care provider can be valuable source of support and encouragement. Simply helping them to make better lifestyle choices and providing safe and reliable transportation to where they need and want to go can be invaluable for helping your parent live the highest quality of life as they age in place. If you are concerned about your aging parent’s health or they have risk factors for particular health problems, a senior care provider can be extremely helpful. Offering your parent reminders for issues such as self-checks, sunscreen application, and good lifestyle choices, as well as being vigilant about the condition of their skin can enable this care provider to support your parent’s ongoing health and provide information to you so that you can make the health care decisions that are right for your elderly parent.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Reston, VA, call the caring staff at Medical Professionals On Call today. 703-273-8818
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/statistics/behavior.htm
http://www.skincancer.org/media-and-press/press-release-2012/skin-cancer-awareness-month
https://www.cancer.org/healthy/be-safe-in-sun.html
Medical Professionals On Call has such a caring, professional staff who are available to step in with whatever level of care necessary for loved ones and to relieve you of that stress.
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