Detecting melanoma for early prevention.

If you meet any of the criteria listed below, you are at higher risk for melanoma and should consider digital mole mapping:

• Multiple moles on your body (more than 50)
• A history of melanoma in your family
• A previous melanoma or skin cancer diagnosis
• A previous diagnosis of dysplastic moles
• Large (more than 2 millimetres in diameter) and/or oddly shaped moles
• Noticeably changing moles or new moles
• A history of severe, blistering sunburns during childhood or adolescence
• A history of tanning bed use
• Very light skin/pale complexion

In order to prepare for your mole mapping session:

• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that are easy to take off.
• Preferably wear black underwear and remember you will need to wear similar undergarments for subsequent mole mapping sessions. Boxer shorts are not recommended.
• Wear as little jewelry as possible. (Remove watches, bracelets, necklaces, chains, earrings, and piercings, etc.)
• Please do not wear makeup, lipstick, eyeliner or nail polish.
• Do not use self-tanning products in the week prior.
• If you have long hair, please wear your hair up during the photography.
• For men with a significant amount of body hair in areas such as the chest, abdomen, back, arms or legs, we recommend this area to be trimmed or shaven so that the moles can be visualized. If it is difficult for you to see them, it will be difficult for the camera to see them as well.

If you have moles that you would like mapped in areas covered by your undergarments, please discuss this with the medical assistant when you arrive for your appointment.

The duration of your appointment depends on the number of moles that need close up photography. If you only need overview photographs, the appointment should last about 15 minutes. If you have many moles that your doctor has marked for magnification photography, the appointment will last longer, up to 45 minutes.

Digital mole mapping should be performed every 6 to 12 months as recommended by your doctor.

Please call our office at 236-420-3277 to schedule your privately paid annual digital Mole Mapping.

Melanoma is a skin cancer that commonly develops in melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin or pigment for the skin, hair and eyes. Melanocytes can also form moles, and while most moles do not become melanoma, they are also the most common place for melanoma to form. If a mole is changing it could be a sign of melanoma. Early detection of melanoma is very important as it has a cure rate of over 95% when found in its early stage.

A nurse will take your photographs, which will then be stored in a secure server. Your physician will review your photographs, analyze any changes and discuss them with you during your full body skin exam.

You will undress to your level of comfort and be positioned in front of the FotoFinder camera. Firstly full body overview photographs will be taken. At this point, Dr. Wiese will do a full body skin exam with a handheld device called a dermatoscope and will mark any moles that need magnification photography and will then take close up photos of these moles with a handheld device.

You cannot have digital mole mapping performed when you have a rash, sunburn or prominent tan lines as this can interfere with the detection software.

Digital mole mapping using FotoFinder is not covered by commercial insurance at this time.

Digital mole mapping with FotoFinder is only an aid for your doctor. You will still need to get full body skin exams. Although the digital mole mapping is very helpful, the software may not detect all new or changing lesions. Full body skin exams are very important, and they are not replaced by digital mole mapping.

Using the “ABCDEFG” rule can help you to recognize suspicious moles during self-evaluation. Moles which show one or more of the signs below should be treated with the utmost attention and observed by your physician!

A for Asymmetry
B for irregular, Blurred or jagged Borders
C for Colour variation
D for Diameter larger than ¼ inch
E for Evolving, any change – in size, shape, colour, elevation, or another trait
F for Firm Feeling
G for Growing in size

$650 and is fully tax deductible as a medical expense.