TORONTO FOOT SPECIALIST DISCUSSES MALIGNANT MELANOMA

 

 

UNLIKE MANY OTHER TYPES OF CANCER, MELANOMA STRIKES PEOPLE OF ALL AGE GROUPS, EVEN THE YOUNG. MALIGNANT MELANOMA IN THE FOOT IS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY AND IT MORE PREVALENT IN WOMEN.  WOMEN TEND TO WEAR MORE OPEN -TOED SHOES AND SANDALS.  

USUALLY MELANOMA  THAT OCCURS ON THE FOOT GOES UNNOTICED DURING ITS EARLY STAGES, WHEN IT WOULD BE MOST EASILY TREATED.  MANY TIMES BY THE TIME THAT MALIGNANT MELANOMA  OF THE FOOT IS DIAGNOSED, IT HAS ALREADY ADVANCED TO THE ADVANCED STAGE WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR ITS HIGH MORTALITY RATE.  THIS IS WHY PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION INVOLVING THE FEET IS VERY IMPORTANT.

TOO MUCH EXPOSURE TO UV RADIATION IS THE USUALLY THE CAUSE.  ANYONE CAN GET MELANOMA BUT FAIR SKIN WITH FRECKLES, BLOND OR RED HAIR, BLISTERING SUNBURNS BEFORE THE AGE OF 18 AND NUMEROUS MOLES, ESPECIALLY IF THEY APPEAR AT A YOUNG AGE.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN DETECTING MELANOMA ARE ASYMMETRY, BORDER IRREGULARITIES, A MIX OF COLOURS RATHER THAN A SINGLE, SOLID COLOUR AND GROWTH A MOLES USUALLY REMAIN SMALL.  A SPOT LARGER THAN A PENCIL HEAD IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN.  BIOPSY IS NECESSARY FOR DIAGNOSIS.

EARLY DETECTION IS CRITICAL FOR SURVIVAL IN ORDER TO CATCH THE CANCER AT ITS EARLY STAGES.  IF YOU NOTICE AN ABNORMAL SPOT THAT POPPED UP OUT OF NOWHERE THAT STARTS ITCHING, CRACKING OR BLEEDING MAKE SURE YOU GET IT LOOKED AT ASAP.

ACDEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS HAS DIAGNOSED 3 CASES OF MALIGNANT MELANOMA, UNFORTUNATELY ALL PATIENTS DIED WITHIN 5 YEARS.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY DR. JOHN A. HARDY, OWNER OF ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS.

PROFESSIONAL FOOT CLINIC

416-465-8737

Toronto, ON Chiropodist Academy Foot and Orthotic

752 BROADVIEW AVENUE Toronto, ON M4K 2P1 

Across from the Broadview Subway | Professional Family Foot Care