black. Another kind, nodular
melanoma, is often
symmetrical, with fairly
regular borders and few
colors, says David Polsky,
M.D., Ph.D., assistant
professor of dermatology and
pathology at NYU Medical
Center. And invasive
melanomas can be smaller
than six millimeters — the
guideline in the ABCDE
rules. The rule for you: Don't
dismiss an odd-looking or
changing mole because it
doesn't resemble the textbook
example; show it to a
dermatologist.
9. If you're dark skinned,
skin cancer is far less
common — and far more
likely to be fatal: No one's
sure why, but among African
Americans, Asians, and
Hispanics, UV radiation does
not play as strong a role
in squamous cell
carcinoma and melanoma as
it does in Caucasians, says
Hugh Gloster, M.D.,
Joy feelings magazine
associate professor of
dermatology at the University
of Cincinnati. He has found
that non-Caucasians are far
more likely to develop
melanoma on the soles of the
feet and palms of the hands
than on areas that are more
heavily sun-exposed like the
face and chest. That and the
likelihood that doctors aren't
looking for skin cancer
among dark-skinned patients
means the disease may be
diagnosed at a later, more
dangerous stage, say experts.
Since UV rays do play a part
in all skin cancers, and basal
cell is an equal-opportunity
enemy, people of all skin
shades need to protect
themselves in the sun.
10. You really can get skin
cancer where the sun don't
shine: The same human
papillomavirus (HPV) that's
responsible for cervical
cancer can cause squamous
cell carcinoma of the
genitals. While squamous cell
Page 19