INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The best way to check yourself for skin cancer is to do a self-examination, or survey. When performing your skin survey, choose a particular day during the month and note it on the calendar. Evaluate each area of your skin, leaving no part unseen. After you look at all the easily seen areas, use a mirror to evaluate the genitals, the anal area, between the toes, your back, and any other hard to see area. It may be helpful to have an image of a body chart and check off areas as you check them on yourself, as well as make note of any moles or markings you find.   For examining your scalp, enlist the help of a friend, partner, or spouse. Part your hair in small sections looking and feeling for erosions, scales, or discolored lesions. With the advent of tanning booths and full-body tans, you can end up with skin cancer on the vulva and penis. Take your skin survey seriously and leave no surface unexamined. The best way to adequately perform this survey is to know what each different kind of skin cancer looks like. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It is most often found in the sun-exposed areas of the head, including the ears and neck.  It is erosive in nature, which means the local skin invasion of the cancer eats into the tissue it affects. It metastasizes, or spreads, to other sites on the body. Risk factors for this include sun exposure, tanning bed use, tendency to freckle, fair skin, number of blistering sunburns in your lifetime, and history of smoking. The lesions are flat or slightly raised, pink or flesh-colored, bleed easily, and have a type of hole in them. They have appearance of eroded flesh and can look like a sore or lesion which oozes, crusts, and doesn't heal. The lesions typically range in size from 1 to 2 cm. Early detection is especially important with melanoma. It is the most deadly of all skin cancers. Melanoma can be cured if it is caught early during stage one. As the cancer advances to late stage cancer, the survival rate for more than a few years is less than 15%. The skin lesions associated with melanoma have certain characteristics that can be looked for when checking yourself for skin cancer, which are based on an ABCDE scheme.   A stands for the typical asymmetry within the skin region, where one half does not match the other half. You should also look for a Border, which will be irregular, ragged or notched, jagged, and not sharp or crisp. The Color will also change across the skin area with a kind of tie-dye effect with blacks, browns, and blues. You must also look for the Diameter of the lesion. It will likely be larger than six mm, or just a bit over a 1/4 an inch in size. You will also notice the mole or lesion Evolve, or change, its appearance over time.   People with darker skin color must be aware that they are at risk for cancer as well — in particular a dangerous form of melanoma that is not caused by sun exposure, called acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM). It is typically found on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or even under the nails. Squamous cell carcinoma starts out with a precancerous lesion called actinic keratosis (AK), which is a lesion that is not a cancer. An AK lesion appears as scaly flesh or a pink colored lesion and are most commonly found in the head, neck, and trunk of the body. They are often rough or scaly to the touch. These develop into SCC lesions, which are small plagues that are raised, plateaued, and painless with smooth edges. There may appear alone or in clusters. They are typically less than 2 cm in size. They may itch, bleed easily, and appear as non-healing wounds that won’t go away but also don’t grow.  Lesions greater than 2 cm have a 10 to 25% chance to be aggressive and spread. The lesions most prone to spread are those that start on the nose, lips, tongue, ear, penis, temple, scalp, eyelid, scrotum, anus, forehead, and hands. In those with multiple AK lesions, the chances that at least one will go on to convert to SCC are between 6% to 10%. There are several categories of people that are at risk for SCC, including those individuals with chronically injured or diseased skin. You are also at risk is you have overexposure to UVA or UVB rays, ionizing radiation, chemical carcinogens, and arsenic. You are also at risk if you have an infection with HPV viruses 6, 11, 16, and 18, leukemia or lymphoma, acne, or take immunosuppressant drugs. As you perform your body searches and notice any of the three different kinds of lesions, keep track of them. Any suspicious lesion should be photographed and marked in red on your body map. When you do your exam the next month, look for changes. Take another picture and compare the two. If there are any changes, even subtle ones, follow up with your dermatologist. Bring your body map and photos to the appointment so you can show them exactly what has been going on.

SUMMARY: Perform a skin survey. Watch out for basal cell carcinoma. Recognize the characteristics of melanoma. Notice squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Keep track of lesions.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: It’s never helpful to tell someone to stop crying or that whatever they are crying about isn’t worth their tears. Crying lets a person feel better. Emotions when vented are better than if they are stored inside because bottled up emotions lead to mental illnesses like depression. If someone is crying, let them cry. Never say things like, "Don't cry" or "This is such a small thing, why are you crying?" They are sharing a vulnerable moment with you, so allow them to express what needs to be expressed without telling them how to feel. You might feel awkward or uncomfortable around someone who’s crying. Remember that your role is to offer support in a way that’s helpful to them, and the focus is ultimately not on you. They might want you to stay and listen or they may want some space and alone time. Don’t assume you know what they want because you don’t. Asking what they want and need puts the other person in control and gives you the opportunity to listen and respond. Whatever they ask for or need, respect what they say.  Ask, “What can I do to help?” or “How can I support you?” If they ask that you leave, leave. Refrain from saying things like "But you need me to help you!", rather just say "Okay, fine but if you need something, call or text me." People need space sometimes. You shouldn’t feel like you’re in a rush or need to go do something. Part of being supportive is being there and giving your time for the person. If you’re there to comfort them, give them the time that they need. Your presence alone can be comforting, so sticking around and making sure they are capable of getting on with their day or getting further help can be what they need most. Don’t stop for a few moments then get on with your day. Stay with them and let them know you will stay if they need you. Even if you have work to do, giving a few mins extra won't hurt. If you know your friend likes hugs, give them a hug. However, if they tend to be more physically reserved, you may wish to pat them on the back or perhaps not touch them at all. If you’re helping a stranger, it’s best to ask if they want physical touch. If you’re in doubt, ask if they’d like a hug or for you to hold them. If they don't want physical touch, don't do it. Ask, "Mind if I hug you"? Your friends or family may want physical touch more than strangers, so make sure you don't make the person more uncomfortable.

SUMMARY:
Let them cry. Ask what they need. Give them time. Give some affection if wanted.