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Area teacher grateful for observant wife and friendPrevention & detection | Diagnostics & staging | Treatments | For physicians | Melanoma home The phrase, “Got your back,” has significant meaning for a local high school math teacher.
“I really couldn't see it, but I guess it had the typical features of skin cancer,” says Mark. “It was asymmetrical and had a couple of different colors in it. My wife had also been urging me to get it checked out, so I made an appointment with my regular doctor.” After seeing Mark's back, Mary Lou Geralts, MD, an internal medicine physician at the Aurora Wilkinson Health Center in Hartland, suggested he see her colleague, Marie Dauenhauer, MD, a dermatologist at the Aurora Wilkinson Medical Clinic in Wales. In the end, Dr. Dauenhauer removed three moles from Mark's back, and the biopsy reports came back with two benign (noncancerous) diagnoses and one malignant melanoma. “I was really kind of surprised,” says Mark, chairman of the math department and a teacher at University Lake School for 17 years. “I didn't feel I fit the usual profile for skin cancer. I've never been into sun tanning. I have dark hair, dark eyes, and my skin is not fair. I'm a reasonably healthy guy. I eat well, exercise regularly… I even floss every day,” he says with a wry smile.
Mark's wife and running partner were right to be concerned about the uneven shape and coloring of Mark's moles, notes Dr. Dauenhauer. “The first sign of melanoma is often a change in the size, shape, color or feel of an existing mole. With that said, however, melanomas also can appear as new moles, especially if you are over the age of 30.” Other telltale signs that a mole may be cancerous include ragged edges; uneven color with shades of black, brown, white, red or blue; pain, bleeding or itching; a change in size or any mole larger than six mm, which is about the size of an eraser at the end of a pencil; and/or a change in texture. “An easy way to remember the classic symptoms of melanoma is ABCD,” suggests Dr. Dauenhauer. “A is for asymmetry; B is for border; C is for color; and D is for diameter. If you have a concern in any of these categories, see your physician.” If you are diagnosed with melanoma, treatment will include surgical removal of the cancer and a safe margin of normal surrounding skin. Depending on how deep the growth is, the dermatologist or surgeon may also recommend a lymph node biopsy to determine if the cancer has spread. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments also may be recommended. To reduce your risk of developing melanoma and other types of skin cancer, get in the habit of wearing sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more. You should also protect your skin by covering up with clothing, sunglasses and a broad brim hat. Don't use tanning booths. And be aware if you have a family history of melanoma or other risk factors such as fair skin, red or blonde hair and blue or green eyes. Although it is rare for children to have melanoma, their risk increases if they are born with moles. “If I can get melanoma, anyone can,” says Mark. “Thanks to my observant wife and friend as well as my two wonderful doctors, mine was caught early and I appear to be one of the lucky ones. By the grace of God, my chances of surviving this are very, very good.” Skin checks should be part of everyone's monthly self-exam and annual medical physical. If you notice any of the warning signs of skin cancer between annual exams, see your doctor without delay. For an appointment for a full body skin cancer screening with Dr. Dauenhauer, call the Aurora Wilkinson Medical Clinic in Wales at 262-968-6160. Learn more about melanoma or request a consultation
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Last
spring, when Mark Bronner of Hartland removed his sweaty shirt after a long,
hot run, his running partner voiced some concern about a mole in the middle
of his back. 
Everyone
is at risk for melanoma these days, says Dr. Dauenhauer. “The incidence for
all types of skin cancer is significantly rising, and melanoma is the one
we're always most concerned about because it can be fatal. Mark is very
fortunate. His melanoma was diagnosed in a very early stage, so his survival
rate is over 95 percent. Advanced stages of melanoma bring your chances of
survival at five years down to six or seven percent, so you can see what a
big, big difference early detection can make.” 