by The American Cancer Society reports that over 100,000 individuals are expected to receive a melanoma diagnosis this year. The positive development is that, with advancements in treatment, mortality rates have seen a decrease.
Diagnostic tools have significantly advanced to better identify and track skin cancers.
The Vectra WB180 system captures images of spots in just a few seconds.
Dr. Jonathan Unger, the medical director of the Waldman Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center at Mount Sinai, demonstrated the Vectra WB180 system to CBS News New York.
It's essentially a full-body photography setup," Unger explained. "We capture images of the entire body using 26 cameras ... The system then combines all of these high-resolution images and merges them into a three-dimensional avatar.
This is a fairly new screening technology, with around 100 machines deployed nationwide. According to Unger, it only takes a few seconds, as opposed to the lengthy process of photographing each individual location.
"Provides us with a record of every area on the patient’s body, correct? Once we capture a point in time, we can always revisit it later and ask: what did this spot look like back then? Was it present? Was it absent? Has it changed over time?" he explained.
He notes that retrieving details about a patient's mole is significantly faster, once again requiring just seconds. This technology also offers other advantages.
Make decisions with more confidence and based on better information about whether something requires further examination, testing, a biopsy, etc.," he explained. "In our clinic, this approach has significantly cut down the number of biopsies, since many of our patients have hundreds—sometimes even more—moles, all of which are atypical.
He went on to say, "This gives us a greater level of assurance regarding what we're observing and the decisions we're making."
It allows me to pause, take a deep breath, and truly appreciate my life.
Patient Jackie Mills has her skin examined using the new device following a concerning incident several years back.
"In around 2020, I noticed a new spot on my face that was changing quickly," she said.
However, Mills recalls that her dermatologist at the time wasn't overly concerned.
I felt like it was growing, shifting in color, becoming more irregular, and I really had to stand up and fight for myself," she said. "I just had a strong instinct that something wasn’t right, and I turned out to be correct.
Mills ultimately received a melanoma diagnosis and underwent Mohs surgery to remove the affected area.
I had to sort of process it for a moment and think, I'm going to carry a scar on my face for the rest of my life," she said. "But it was either that or not be here.
Now she undergoes checkups every six months.
"Not only is Dr. Unger examining my spots, but he's also using this machine to track changes mathematically over time. I think that really gives me peace of mind, allowing me to relax and enjoy life without always worrying about melanoma returning or being a problem," Mills explained.
Doctors emphasize that the most important safety advice is to apply sunscreen daily. This practice can protect against sunburn, early signs of aging, and the risk of developing skin cancer.
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