Routine skin check turns to nightmare as woman leaves with gaping hole in her face

When Mika Stambaugh went to the dermatologist for a simple skin check she didn t expect to leave that appointment with a gaping hole in her face Shocked Shocked I mean scared like whoa the -year-old declared of her emotions during what she thought would be a routine visit But the appointment truly marked the start of a months-long nightmare for Stambaugh The medical professional walked in the room Within one minute he was like What s that on your face I was like I don t know That s what I m here for And he was like I m pretty sure that s melanoma ' Stambaugh commented The Chicago woman s story is one of survival and serves as a warning for others on the damaging effects years of sun exposure can take I love tanning I love being tan Stambaugh described NBC Chicago I have sought after that glow for -plus years But melanoma skin cancer were words Stambaugh never thought she d hear despite never wearing sunscreen After repeat visits to the dermatologist to remove even more tissue Stambaugh is now cancer free The hole in her face eventually stitched up more than a week later Doctors at Northwestern commented it s central to know who is the bulk at threat for melanoma and what indicators you should watch for Early detection can be life-saving People should look for a brown patch or a black patch or a gray patch that looks a little different than your other moles explained Dr Murad Alam with Northwestern Curative Group Dermatology Fair skinned people get it more The greater part importantly it s blistering sun burns in childhood As minimal as a single sunburn can cause you to get one several decades later That s why doctors recommend sunscreen with SPF or higher Stambaugh is not only now cancer free but healing well This scar on her face serves as a way to educate others about the dangers of sun exposure and the need for proper sun protection especially as summer approaches I look in the mirror and I m just grateful I don t have cancer Stambaugh commented For me it s just this is my journey Stambaugh has teamed up with the Melanoma Research Foundation to raise money and awareness about the dangers of sun exposure She s also joined Rep LaShawn Ford for a new statewide initiative called Mika s Melanoma Monday officially recognized annually on the first Monday in May also known as Skin Cancer Awareness Month to call for physical condition care providers to promote early skin checks and tuition about melanoma What are the types of skin cancer Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are the the greater part common forms of skin cancer and are highly treatable if detected early enough and given proper healing according to AAD The American Cancer Society reports that such cancers are largest part often determined in areas exposed to the sun like the head neck and arms Greater part skin cancer deaths however are from melanoma which is less commo but it is more likely to grow and spread The American Cancer Society reports that while melanoma accounts for roughly of skin cancer diagnoses it causes a majority of skin cancer deaths In alone it is estimated that people will die of melanoma with just over being men and more than being women While the five-year survival rate for melanoma is if it is diagnosed before it spreads to lymph nodes that number drops to once it spreads to lymph nodes AAD reports If it gets to other organs and even further lymph nodes the number reaches just How often should you get your skin checked According to Dr Amy Derick a dermatologist and Curative Director of Derick Dermatology the answer depends on a variety of factors Certain things to consider include age sun exposure whether or not someone is immunocompromised family history and more I think that it s based on individual threat factors And so it would be prudent that you go to a dermatology office to have that discussed with each person individually she stated It depends on your age you know your sun damage or cumulative sun damage too People who are immunosuppressed or have weakened immune systems are more likely to get skin cancer and people who have a lot of moles or if you ve got a history of skin cancer before you re much more likely to get another skin cancer And if you got a different skin cancer like basal cell you re also more likely to have melanoma In Illinois new act that took effect in requires robustness insurers to cover such examinations annually The rule states that an individual or group guidelines of accident and vitality insurance shall cover without imposing a deductible coinsurance copayment or any other cost-sharing requirement upon the insured subject one annual office visit for a whole body skin examination for lesions suspicious for skin cancer This is a benefit of multiple commercial insurance plans where you can have a skin cancer screening with absolutely no out-of-pocket costs no deductible no co-pay no co-insurance once a year Derick declared What should you look for Experts say looking for changes or growths in anything on the skin is essential Cancers grow and change and a changing lesion is apparently the highest hazard factor for something that demands to be looked at something that s asymmetric and that s very dark something that came out of the blue and something that s symptomatic bleeding or you know it just itches all the time or something like that those sorts of things are pivotal for you to take more seriously Derick mentioned She added that skin cancer particularly melanoma can even develop on areas that aren t often exposed to sun Here s what the American Cancer Society says you should look for with each type of skin cancer Basal Cell Flat firm pale or yellow areas similar to a scar Raised reddish patches that might be itchy Small pink or red translucent shiny pearly bumps which might have blue brown or black areas Pink growths with raised edges and a lower area in their center which might contain abnormal blood vessels spreading out like the spokes of a wheel Open sores which may have oozing or crusted areas that don t heal or that heal and then come back Basal cell cancers are often fragile and might bleed after shaving or after a minor injury Sometimes people go to the expert because they have a sore or a cut from shaving that just won t heal which turns out to be a basal cell cancer A simple rule of thumb is that largest part shaving cuts heal within a week or so Squamous Cell Rough or scaly red patches which might crust or bleed Raised growths or lumps sometimes with a lower area in the center Open sores which may have oozing or crusted areas that don t heal or that heal and then come back Wart-like growths Melanoma The preponderance essential warning sign of melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that is changing in size shape or color Another critical sign is a spot that looks different from all of the other spots on your skin known as the ugly duckling sign The ABCDE rule is another guide to the usual signs of melanoma Be on the lookout and tell your specialist about spots that have any of the following features A is for Asymmetry One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other B is for Perimeter The edges are irregular ragged notched or blurred C is for Color The color is not the same all over and may include different shades of brown or black or sometimes with patches of pink red white or blue D is for Diameter The spot is larger than millimeters across about inch the size of a pencil eraser although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this E is for Evolving The mole is changing in size shape or color A sore that doesn t heal Spread of pigment from the perimeter of a spot into surrounding skin Redness or a new swelling beyond the confines of the mole Change in sensation such as itchiness tenderness or pain Change in the surface of a mole scaliness oozing bleeding or the appearance of a lump or bump