Diagnosis

If a change in the skin is noticeable, or if a mole appears differently than usual, one should consult a dermatologist who will take a closer look at the affected area. First of all, a detailed conversation with the patient is important in order to find out about possible risk factors, such as abnormalities in the family or increased exposure to the sun or increased use of solariums. It is also important to find out when the symptoms occurred and how they changed over the course of time.

During the examination, attention should be paid to the skin structure, unevenness, discoloration and cornification. If new dark or even particularly light spots or discolorations are discovered, one should look to see whether they can be clearly distinguished from the surrounding skin, whether they protrude or lie on the surface and whether blood vessels can be seen. The affected skin area is closely examined and assessed under a microscope and the entire rest of the body must always be examined as part of the examination.

In case of a suspicious examination result, a sample of the tissue must be taken in order to make a reliable diagnosis. The affected skin area is anaesthetized and then the conspicuous skin area is removed, taking into account a safety margin. The tissue sample is then sent to a pathologist who will assess the composition and condition of the removed skin area. Only after the physician has received the written assessment of the tissue sample can the diagnosis of skin cancer be made. Further examinations such as a CT or MRI examination, ultrasound or X-ray are necessary to assess how far the skin cancer has spread in the body and whether other organs are also affected by metastases of the degenerated cells.

Early detection of skin cancer

Early detection of skin cancer is the most important factor in improving the outcome of the disease. Especially for people who have been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, an early diagnosis often prolongs life.Black skin cancer tends to quickly form metastases that settle in and infect the other organs of the body. If the tumor is detected before such a metastasis occurs, it can be easily removed surgically.

However, the principle also applies to the types of white skin cancer: the earlier the diagnosis, the better the chances of cure. In order to be able to guarantee the earliest possible diagnosis, the statutory health insurance companies rely on skin cancer screening, which can be carried out by a dermatologist every 2 years from the age of 35. In this targeted screening, the patient’s entire skin is examined and examined for particular abnormalities and changes.

Special attention is also paid to existing moles and liver spots. If an area of the skin appears clearly suspect, a sample can be taken and examined for degenerated cells. If skin cancer is detected early and only affects the uppermost cell layers, surgery can be performed well and there is a chance of recovery of almost 100%.

Patients with a particularly high number of moles, more than 30 – 40, should have their growth and condition checked at regular intervals. In addition to participating in the screening examination, each patient should also check his or her skin independently and look for changes. This is the only way to ensure early detection of skin cancer.