Picture
Dialogue
Two Black ladies (Monica and Brandi) are sitting at a desk at an outside cafe having lunch collectively and chatting.
Monica: What are you going to put on to Stacey’s social gathering subsequent month?
Brandi: In all probability a black costume. The one with the —
Monica: (reaches for her glass of water, exposing a darkish spot on her palm within the course of)
Brandi: Monica, what’s in your hand?
Monica: This spot? (factors to identify on palm). Unsure. It appeared to simply present up someday. And what? It’s really been bothering me currently. It’s itchy and somewhat tender.
Brandi: Have you ever gotten it checked out?
Monica: No. I’m positive it’s no huge deal.
Brandi: That kinda jogs my memory of how Stacey mentioned her pores and skin most cancers seemed.
Monica: However she’s fair-skinned. Darker skinned individuals like us don’t have to fret about that. I by no means get burned.
Brandi: Yeah, however I believe you must at the least get it checked out.
Monica: Effectively, I’m going to the dermatologist in just a few weeks to attempt a type of pores and skin resurfacing laser remedies. I can deliver it up then.
Monica is sitting within the examination chair on the dermatologist’s workplace. She is ending up a type of fancy laser remedies on her face.
A pair weeks later …
Physician: All accomplished! This could assist battle a few of these wonderful strains you’re involved about.
Monica: Oh earlier than I am going, my buddy made me promise to ask you about this spot on my hand. I advised her it was nothing, however can you are taking a fast look?
Monica’s dermatologist reaches for a magnifying glass, adjusts her headlamp to shine onto her palm, and leans ahead and examines the mole on her palm.
Monica’s physician takes a fast pores and skin pattern of the mole and packages it up for biopsy.
Physician: This really seems to be a bit suspicious.
Monica: Actually? What does it appear like?
Physician: It could possibly be early melanoma.
Monica: On the palm of my hand?
Physician: Sure. In individuals with darker pores and skin, melanoma really reveals up extra in areas that don’t get a number of solar, like your palm, bottoms of the toes, underneath your nails and even inside your mouth.
Monica: I had no thought. I barely even use sunscreen – except I’m on the seashore or one thing – as a result of my pores and skin by no means appears to burn.
Physician: Lots of people of shade don’t understand that they’re additionally susceptible to pores and skin most cancers. And that not all pores and skin most cancers is brought on by solar publicity. It’s true that lighter pores and skin is extra in danger, however I additionally diagnose it in Black individuals — even those that by no means burn. I’m going to have this biopsied and can name you with the outcomes.
Monica will get a cellphone name from the physician.
Monica: Hi there?
Physician: Hello, Monica. Identical to I suspected, that mole is early stage melanoma. The excellent news is you introduced it to my consideration, and we caught it early. I’m going to schedule you to return in and get it eliminated.
Monica: Wow. I’m so glad I had it checked.
Physician: Sure, it’s nice that you simply introduced that mole to my consideration. Are available for yearly checks, hold tabs in your pores and skin between appointments and undoubtedly come see me when you discover the rest suspicious.
Additionally, though solar publicity in all probability didn’t trigger this melanoma, it’s nonetheless essential to put on sunscreen. Use SPF 30 or increased. You’ll need to discover a model with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Zinc can depart a white solid in your pores and skin, however they make tinted ones for individuals of shade.
Monica: Thanks!
Monica is at Stacey’s social gathering along with her buddy Brandi. They’re standing collectively at a excessive high cocktail desk with a drink in every of their arms chatting. Brandi is in her black costume and Monica is dressed up as effectively. The social gathering is outdoors on a rooftop and the solar continues to be out.
Monica places on sunscreen and provides some to Brandi
Monica: Thanks once more for encouraging me to get that mole checked out, Brandi.
Brandi: In fact. I’m so glad the surgical procedure took care of it. An important reminder to placed on sunscreen. Actually, I’ve been slacking too.
Monica: Talking of which … (pulls out a tube of SPF 30, slathers some on her uncovered pores and skin and provides it to Brandi).
Brandi: Thanks!
Attainable pores and skin most cancers signs in individuals of shade
- A darkish spot, development or patch of pores and skin that’s altering form, getting greater or bleeding
- A tough or dry patch of pores and skin
- A darkish line in or round your finger or toenail mattress
- A sore that isn’t therapeutic or heals and returns over time
- A sore that seems or reappears in a scar or website of earlier damage
For extra info, go to HealthyWomen.org.
This useful resource was created with assist from Merck.
