Skin Cancer Screenings

[anniemae]

Does anyone go to dermatologist for skin cancer screenings? I went last week and it was so quick I wonder if she even looked carefully. I thought everyone 40 and older was recommended to get a skin check annually, but the dermatologist I went to said I could go every few years. She was very nice but I think the actual skin check was about 45 seconds. She just moved the gown around a little and that was it.

 

[PrincesCJM]

I see a dermatologist every year and she does a full body check. I have psoriasis so we discuss how that is going and make any changes to that treatment plan. My mom has had two different forms of skin cancer, neither were melanoma thankfully, so it's something that is on my mind, plus I had a mole removed from my back in college when it started to change shape. I am in my 40's

 

[Breezy_Carol]

My adult children, who have better health insurance than than we did, started going in their 30s. About 4 years ago when we aged into Medicare, DH and I started too. Exam takes more than 45 seconds, maybe 5 minutes with more time for any questions. She carefully looks at all skin. Freezes anything suspicious. In DH, she discovered a skin cancer on his ear and he had to have a Mohs procedure.

I think I might see a different dermatologist.

 

[soccerdad72]

Just started a year or two ago - and I'll go annually at this point. My wife had a small cancerous mass removed last year, so we're both going regularly now.

 

[mmbrad02]

I've been going annually for probably 5-6 years now (I am 45), maybe a bit longer. I'm fair skin with lots of moles and it brings me peace of mind. No family history, but my former obgyn had noticed a tiny mole on my back that was out of my view and suggested I get it seen, and thats what started my annual checks. My dermatologist is great, she has a way of doing my full body skin check without making me uncomfortable - we talk about travel or work or something. She is pretty efficient (aka, fast) on the check but I do feel like she is looking at what she needs to see. She gives me time to ask questions and such but honestly I've just not really had many at this point, so my appointments do overall feel quick. This last time I was having some skin irritation on my face and she helped me address those concerns.

 

[Meriweather]

I go every year. Looks all over. So far just removed some Keratosis.....mostly because some were becoming annoying to be. They were frozen.

DH goes twice a year because he has a lot of problems with spots. Almost always gets a some removed and has had to have blue light treatment once. All on face and head. He is light skinned and balding

 

[Christine]

I go annually and my skin check takes a while. She's got an iPad and she "maps" me. Notes every mark and goes from head to toe. She starts looking in my scalp in the part line and around the hairline and moves down. It definitely takes more than 45 seconds. I would say it's about 5 minutes. That said, I have a lot of stuff on me. Maybe you don't so they don't have to study you inch by inch.

 

[anniemae]

My adult children, who have better health insurance than than we did, started going in their 30s. About 4 years ago when we aged into Medicare, DH and I started too. Exam takes more than 45 seconds, maybe 5 minutes with more time for any questions. She carefully looks at all skin. Freezes anything suspicious. In DH, she discovered a skin cancer on his ear and he had to have a Mohs procedure.

I think I might see a different dermatologist.

Yes, I am going to see about changing to someone else. There are multiple doctors in the practice and one gets really great reviews so I am going to try to get her.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I did my first skin cancer check with a dermatologist last year. I will be getting them annually even though there was nothing suspicious. It honestly only took a few minutes. She looked at a couple things closer just to be sure but mostly just looked me over fairly quickly. They know what they are looking for.

Same dermatologist diagnosed melanoma on my husband's back SUPER early as well as a basal cell carcinoma on his face. So I definitely trust her even though it didn't take her long to look me over.

 

[citruscurtis]

Wife was a cosmetic instructor and she went me with to VA and I saw a PA and he said no ... which may have very well saved my life ...two years later what she saw swelled so to a demerogist and he removed the swelling... and that removal could have very well killed me or saved me... cancer is not a science...it is a medical process for each individual and statistics being the rule of thumb ... that being why a doctor can dismiss what you may think to be skin cancer

 

[lorimt]

I’m 47 and have been going annually for about 10 years because I had a cancerous spot the first time I went. My dermatologist takes about 5 minutes to check.

 

[MIGrandma]

I’m 68 and had Mohs surgery on a spot on my face several years ago. A couple months ago I had the same type of surgery done on two more spots, plus freezing of a couple others in my hairline. I go back in January and he wants to discuss starting a chemotherapy type treatment on my face. I need to be more diligent about applying sunscreen, although I’m not the type to sunbathe or even spend a lot of time outdoors. I do wear a hat if I go for a walk. I had a mole removed on my back several years ago.

 

[citruscurtis]

I’m 68 and I go back in January and he wants to discuss starting a chemotherapy type treatment on my face. I need to be more diligent about applying sunscreen, although I’m not the type to sunbathe or even spend a lot of time outdoors. I do wear a hat if I go for a walk. I had a mole removed on my back several years ago.

Chemotherapy type treatment...I had one that was experimental in 2020 and I believe it is working... the right side of my face is covered in cancer and that cancer is not historically doing what is supposed to do... the therapy was to coat the 100s of cancer cells in my face and to prevent the cancer from spreading the deadly roots.. instead the cancer grows outward and not inward ... Left side cheek from ear to jaw bone was removed... everything... I will not allow that to happen to the other side and that is why had the experiment drug...

 

[mamamary]

Yes I go every year. Found a few different skin cancers over the years. Finally got my husband to start going too.

 

[easyas123]

I go yearly, have for a long time. In my Late 40,s I had a huge “chunk” taken out of my shoulder. I’ve got two different Mohs surgeries scheduled in next month. I think k my doc spends a solid 10-15 minutes on me. I’m 52 now.

 

[JediBonas]

I'm 46 and go every six months. My derm office also does full body scan (pretty much pictures of every inch of the body) so they can compare from visit-to-visit to check if anything needs to be biopsied. I've got a bunch of scars from biopsies and wide area excisions, a have a lot of dysplastic moles so usually have at least one thing checked per visit. I've been very lucky nothing has come back cancerous. I've known a few people who passed from melanoma, skin checks are soooo important!

ETA: the skin check itself yes, is pretty fast. Derms are trained to know what potentially problematic spots looks like so skin checks can definitely be fast. For example she'll hold my arm out and just run her eyes over it, only takes a few seconds.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Back in 2021, I had a mole on my calf that started changing. I went in to my dermatologist and she brushed off the mole as nothing and also went super fast through my body check. So, kind of like your experience. I wasn't satisfied so I insisted she take a closer look at the concerning mole. She still felt it was nothing but after pushing, she agreed to a biopsy. A couple of weeks later, I received word that it was an aggressive melanoma. It didn't look like a textbook one, so I guess that's her defense? Then again, the oncologist (who is also a chief) who handled everything with me as well as years of follow up care, was just as quick in doing my 6 month skin checks. It's honestly a bit disconcerting and made me lose faith in the practice.

I will say this...if you see a change and something doesn't look right, you need to self advocate and make sure you get the care you need. I might not have survived if I followed my derm's initial assessment of my mole.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

I've gone annually for quite some time. I've had "many" unusual removals and one, two week med application to my lip.
The lip thing was not fun as it looked ugly as the process moved along. But it wasn't cancer so I was lucky!
I have many moles and my Dr does a complete body check, front , back, feet, nails, head. It is definitely more than 45 sec.
She takes pictures too so she can compare year to year.

IF you have no moles or next to none, maybe your body exam goes much quicker. Find out where and when there are FREE skin CA screenings in your area, make appt and go. It's how I started my journey 15+ years ago.

 

[Turn the Page]

I go twice a year. I'm 42. My father has had melanoma 6 or so times plus a couple other types. I have a history of basal cell and melanoma myself. We see the same provider and she is VERY proactive with me. Anything at all that is new or even remotely different she biopsies.

 

[slo]

I try to go once a year since I love to hang out in my pool a lot during the summer. I do use sunscreen, but since I'm laying in the sun baking for 4-5 hours at a time, I still like to get checked.

I see my dermatologist PA and she is AWESOME and very thorough. We've been seeing her for about 10 years now, and she's incredible. If I timed her exam, it would probably be about 5 minutes. If she seems anything questionable, maybe slightly longer because a picture is taken and tells the nurse what to write in my chart about it.

OP - An exam should take longer than 45 seconds. I would think about asking your friends and family who they see, and try who they refer next year, since typically insurance only covers one full body exam a year.