Khloe Kardashian is opening up about her recovery from skin cancer and encouraging her followers to pay attention to their skin safety.
On Tuesday, the reality TV star and fashion designer shared a series on Instagram showing the damage to her face following the removal of a melanoma tumor last October.
Kardashian, 39, said for more than a year she thought a small scar on her cheek was a zit.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it turns out to be melanoma, a type of skin cancer that often appears in the form of new moles, age spots, or freckles on the skin.
After having the tumor removed by a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon last October, Kardashian said there was a lump on her cheek.
He said he waited nine months, then filled his recent depression to return the pin to its normal size.
"I'm so happy my face is finally back to normal," Kardashian wrote alongside a series of photos showing her medical journey.
Mother of two, Kardashian, also encouraged her followers to have their skin checked by a dermatologist at least once a year.
“I never thought this little spot would turn into skin cancer and I can't imagine what would have happened if I hadn't gone to the doctor to get it checked out.” “It is very important to pay attention to our skin and the changes that occur in our skin and body, no matter how small. »
She continued: "There's nothing to be too wary of. You're responsible, my darling! Take care of yourself."
What you need to know about melanoma and sun protection
The AADA and National Cancer Institute estimate that more than 1 million Americans are currently living with melanoma, a rare form of skin cancer in which cancer cells form in melanocytes, the cells that give skin its color.
Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that can spread throughout the body. WE. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that melanoma causes the most deaths of all skin cancers because it spreads throughout the body and grows or attacks other skin cancers. in other organs.
Although Kardashian's melanoma was found as a spot on the face, there are other ways the cancer can appear on the body, including vertical dark lines under or bands of dark skin around the nails, as well as “slow spots” according to the AADA, “areas of thickened skin” on the body that are growths that may resemble scars.
It can occur anywhere on the body, but in women it most commonly occurs on the arms and legs, according to the NCI.
The main risk factors for developing melanoma include tanning beds and sun and outdoor UV exposure, family history of melanoma, personal history of melanoma or other types of skin cancer, a weak immune system, certain types of moles. , and white skin, according to the CDC, skin tone, freckles and blonde hair.
In the United States, the risk of melanoma varies by age. Before age 50, women have a higher risk of developing melanoma; After age 50, the risk is higher in men.
The best ways to reduce your risk of developing melanoma include annual skin exams at a dermatologist's office and regular skin checks at home, avoiding tanning salons, wearing sunscreen outdoors, wearing sun-protective clothing, and avoiding the sun when exposure is high. According to the CDC, it is usually between 10 am and 2 pm each day.
Medical experts also say people should know the “ABCs of melanoma,” which include assessing moles based on their characteristics:
-And symmetry is when half of the mole does not match the other half.
B order irregularities - when the edges of the mole are uneven and not smooth.
- Regional color . When moles are uneven in color.
- wart diameter. - If the diameter of the mole is more than 6 mm.
-and resize the area in question. - When a mole changes color, shape or size.