less susceptible to skin cancer than those with lighter skin, melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, often goes undetected in people of color until it reaches an advanced stage. Consequently, late-stage melanoma is more prevalent among Black individuals, leading to poorer survival rates.
Heman Bekele’s groundbreaking invention has the potential to address this health disparity by offering an accessible and cost-effective solution that can be particularly beneficial to underserved communities, including the Black community.
Skin cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages, however, symptoms can appear at any point, according to MD Anderson Cancer Center.
If you notice any of the following symptoms, it is important to let your doctor know so that you can get an infinitive diagnosis:
- A new spot on the skin or
- A changes in the size, shape or color of an existing spot. These changes can vary greatly so there is no one way to describe how a skin cancer looks.
- A spot that is itchy or painful
- A non-healing sore that bleeds or develops a crust
- A red- or skin-colored shiny bump on the top of the skin
- A red rough or scaly spot that you can feel
- A growth with a raised border and central crust or bleeding
- A wart-like growth
- A scar-like growth without a well-defined border