One of the things that you need to watch out for when caring for an elderly adult is skin cancer. Many elderly adults don’t keep an eye on their skin changes, so they may miss the early signs of skin cancer. Even if you can’t be there with your elderly loved one, you can have their home care providers keep an eye out for the signs of skin cancer. They can either do this themselves or remind your elderly loved one to check for these changes.
Asymmetrical Moles
One of the signs of skin cancer is asymmetrical moles. If your elderly loved one has a mole that is oddly shaped or one of the sides of the mole looks different than the other side, they should have it checked out by a doctor. This could mean they have skin cancer. Your elderly loved one should also keep track of any moles that may be changing color, shape, or size, as well. These could also signify skin cancer.
Odd Coloring
What do your elderly loved one’s moles look like? Not every mole that is cancerous will be brown or black. Some of the cancerous moles are different colors. If your elderly loved one has a mole that has different colors in it, they should have it checked out by a doctor. Some of the colors they might notice are blue, red, or white. Even if their mole is black and brown, they should have it checked out.
Bigger Size
Most freckles will be very small. If your elderly loved one has a freckle or mole that grows to be around 6mm or bigger, they should have it checked out. This is around the size of one eraser on a pencil. Freckles or moles that are 6mm or bigger could be a sign of skin cancer. Keep in mind that if your elderly loved one’s freckles or moles grow in any way, they should have them checked out right away. They should not wait for them to grow 6mm or larger.
These are some of the many different signs of skin cancer to look out for in your elderly loved one. It is important that someone reminds your elderly loved one to keep an eye out for these types of changes. Many elderly adults won’t give their freckles or moles a second look. This could mean they are missing any changes that could be happening. If your elderly loved one has any freckles or moles, they should be looking at them at least every few months, to assure no changes are happening.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elder Care in Avondale, AZ, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Resources at (602) 443-4700
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