Skin Cancer: Health Story

Aired on Superstation WGN
Saturday, July 23 and November 12, 2005
Show 219

"These photos keep me alive," says Gaton Sere de Rivieres, whose body is covered from head to foot with moles vulnerable to skin cancer. The photos to which he is referring are high-resolution digital pictures.

"These pictures can pick up on changes in size, color and shape we otherwise wouldn't be able to track as easily. For high-risk groups this can be life saving," says Dr. Allan Halpern, Chief of Dermatology Services at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Halpern helped develop this cutting-edge digital imagery screening. "Digital screening can take standardized images and overlay individual moles," says Dr. Halpern. The high resolution eliminates the guesswork. Photos are put onto CDs. This is an efficient way of storing patient information and patients are also given copies of their CDs to compare with while doing self exams.

"The CDs are really helpful. I can see details and look for changes," says Gaton, who regularly performs self exams.