CDK4: Options for Managing Cancer Risk

10

• Perform monthly self-exams to look for skin changes. Have a friend or family member help with hard to see areas of the body.
• Watch moles closely for any signs of change in shape, size, or color.
• Twice yearly dermatologist exam should include mole mapping, or full body photography. Doctors may also view moles with a hand-held device known as a dermatoscope. Any suspicious moles or other skin changes should be removed by a doctor so the tissue can be analyzed by a pathologist.
• Practice sun safety and take protective steps when outdoors. Avoid being outside during the peak sun exposure hours between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, seek shade when available, use sunscreen frequently, wear a hat with a brim at least 3 inches wide that extends all the way around the head, and wear protective clothing that covers the arms and legs.
• In people that have had melanoma, thorough skin exams by a dermatologist should be done every month depending on several factors, including number of moles, time since diagnosis, skin type and melanoma type.