The rates of skin cancer being found are increasing. But this isn’t necessarily bad news— it’s partly due to our increased ability to detect melanoma early.
Dr. Mike Ballantine, alongside Orillia family physicians Dr. Runk, Dr. Porter, and Dr. McNaull, have recently set up Orillia Skin Centre on Laclie St., to provide high-quality melanoma screening to residents of Orillia and the surrounding areas.
In addition to the Orillia Skin Centre, Dr. Ballantine is the medical director for the Grey-Bruce Skin Cancer Program. His practice is focused on skin cancer detection and management.
A significant piece of tech that Dr. Ballantine’s clinic utilizes is an ATBM machine, which stands for Automated Total Body Mapping. The machine does “total body mole mapping,” using high-resolution cameras with polarized light to capture images of the entire skin surface. The software, which automatically detects pigmented skin lesions, helps the physician in evaluating and screening for melanoma.
Patients simply stand in front of the machine and are walked through a series of poses to hold. Dr. Ballantine then reviews the images and marks any spots that are of potential concern for closer inspection. If there is something that’s highly concerning, a biopsy may be performed to rule out melanoma. If there are spots that should be monitored, patients are booked to come in once or twice a year to get examined for changes. The ATBM’s software will automatically flag if there’s been a change in a spot, or if a new spot has appeared.
What the machine does not do is tell you whether or not a spot is skin cancer. A physician reviews the images, and the machine helps them to track any changes. Dr. Ballantine says that this tracking of potential changes is extremely beneficial.
“Patients are often told to keep an eye on specific spots at home, but in a lot of cases, this can be really tricky for them to do.”
As of right now, Dr. Ballantine is not aware of any other total body mole mapping machine in the Orillia region. He says that some people are travelling to Toronto right now to receive this particular type of screening, so he sees the need and wants to help fill it.
There are a few risk factors for developing skin cancer, including family history, personal history of melanoma, having a lot of moles, having light-coloured eyes and hair (such as blue eyes and blonde or red hair), and of course, UV exposure. UV exposure includes both sun exposure and tanning beds. Some studies suggest that a single use of a tanning bed before the age of 35 increases your chances of developing melanoma by 75%.
Melanoma can happen to people of any age, and as with all cancers, it’s beneficial to diagnose it early. Dr. Ballantine says the ABCDE system is a good place to start for patients to check their own skin at home. Here’s what to look for when examining your moles:
- A is for Asymmetry. One half of the mole is unlike the other half
- B is for Border. The spot has an irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined border
- C is for Colour. The spot has different shades of colour
- D is for Diameter. Melanomas are often 6mm+, though they can sometimes be smaller
- E is for Evolving. It is changing in size, shape, or colour
These symptoms don’t automatically mean that the mole is skin cancer, but it should be examined by a physician.
Dr. Ballantine hopes that the ATBM technology will bring residents of Orillia and surrounding areas some extra reassurance when it comes to melanoma screening.
“Universally, people are blown away by the technology. It puts people’s minds at ease. They feel that they’ve been completely reviewed head to toe.”
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