Wednesday, May 13, 1998

Aikman has cancerous mole removed, calls himself 'fortunate'

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman called himself "fortunate" Tuesdy when he talked about his surgery last week to remove a cancerous mole from the back of his left shoulder.

The growth was a malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, according to Dr. Jerald L. Sklar, Aikman's dermatologist. Although Sklar said the prognosis is excellent, Aikman understands that his battle with skin cancer may not be over.

Sklar said that anyone who has had one cancerous mole is at a greater risk for growing another.

"I'm more inclined to get it again," Aikman said. "But you just have to check yourself regularly and find it. If you don't check yourself you can get in trouble."

According to Sklar, more than 1 million people will learn this year that they have skin cancer. More than 41,000 will be melanoma cases. And more than 7,300 will die this year from melanoma.

Sklar performed a biopsy on the cancerous mole May 4, one day before Aikman participated in a three-day minicamp with the Cowboys.

On Friday, Aikman had more tissue removed and the incision closed with 11 stitches.

According to Sklar, the skin cancer was diagnosed in the earliest stage when a 100 percent cure rate can be expected. Many cases of melanoma are caused by overexposure to the sun, something the Cowboys guard against by giving the players sunscreen to wear at practice.

Aikman, who said he really didn't get scared "until I went in Friday to get more cut out," termed the situation an educational process.

"I've known people who had skin cancer," Am+-1/8X-3/4 said. "Usually they go in and the doctor freezes it. I thought that was how it always was. But melanoma is different. If you don't catch it, it can be deadly. I'm fortunate that we found it early and got it out."

Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer are the most common forms of the disease, doctors say. Melanoma is a cancer of the melanocyte cell, which gives the skin pigmentation.Melanoma is more aggressive and more deadly than basal cell and squamous cell, doctors say.

"This is a case in point of how important it is to catch melanomas early," Sklar said. "A melanoma that goes undetected can spread internally . . . and the results can be devastating."

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed relief yesterday about Aikman's prognosis.

"We are pleased that everything worked out well for Troy," Jones said. "This is a serious condition and something people should be informed about and aware of."

Aikman said he discovered the mole when he was vacationing with his family in Hawaii two months ago. He said he noticed a growth on his back that hadn't been there before and asked his sisters Tammy and Terri about it.

"Both are nurses and they said I should have it checked out," Aikman said.

He said that's when he went to Sklar.

Aikman, who quit chewing tobacco last year because of the dangers of cancer, said he wants to help spread the message about the importance of sunscreen use, protection from exposure to the sun, and the monitoring of suspicious moles by dermatologists.

Sklar said Aikman's openness about his condition is very important because he can heighten public awareness regarding the dangers of skin cancer.

"It lets people know that anybody can get this," Sklar said. "Athletes are actually more prone to skin cancers because of the sun exposures they get growing up with sports."

Cowboys trainer Jim Maurer said the team has always warned players about the dangers of the sun. Maurer said National Football League teams give physicals to players every year and provide an abundant amount of sunscreen at practices.

"We promote physicals and try to get guys who have skin problems to use sunscreens," Maurer said. "Troy was lucky to find it. And we are happy it was all taken care of."

Dr. Amit Pandya, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, said the biggest problem with melanoma is the lack of awareness.

He said Aikman finding the mole early can improve public awareness about the disease.

"There is not a lot of awareness about melanoma," Pandya said. "It's been rising, but it's not like it's something that's been real common. We weren't seeing tons of it years ago."

(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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