Katie: The Skinny On Skin Cancer
The news about Laura Bush's skin cancer got a lot of attention, including coverage on last night's Evening News. The fight against cancer is a cause close to Katie's heart. This morning, she has more information on the First Lady's cancer -- Ed.
You may have noticed we've been paying a lot of attention to health and medical stories on the CBS Evening News. These stories affect everyone, and there are just so many developments in the field of medicine, it can be confusing. We feel it's an important part of our mission to sift through them and try to make sense of it all.
Last night was a good example. On the CBS Evening News, we took a look at First Lady Laura Bush's skin cancer diagnosis. She had a skin cancer tumor removed five weeks ago, and decided not to disclose it publicly because, as the White House has said, "it's no big deal and we knew it was no big deal at the time.''
It got me thinking though, that the disclosure is actually a big deal because it gives us a chance to learn more about skin cancer, which isn't often in the news. And of course, like with any cancer, an early diagnosis is key.
Yesterday, I spoke with Dr. Darrick Antell, a leading plastic surgeon who regularly identifies skin cancer. I wanted to know, as a doctor, what he thinks is the most important message for people. He says we all need to do self-exams and ideally, go to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon at least once a year to check for any suspicious growths or changes. Squamous cell carcinoma, the type of cancer Laura Bush has, can often appear as a rough or scaly patch and requires a biopsy, Dr. Antell says...
(AP Photo)
Last night was a good example. On the CBS Evening News, we took a look at First Lady Laura Bush's skin cancer diagnosis. She had a skin cancer tumor removed five weeks ago, and decided not to disclose it publicly because, as the White House has said, "it's no big deal and we knew it was no big deal at the time.''
It got me thinking though, that the disclosure is actually a big deal because it gives us a chance to learn more about skin cancer, which isn't often in the news. And of course, like with any cancer, an early diagnosis is key.
Yesterday, I spoke with Dr. Darrick Antell, a leading plastic surgeon who regularly identifies skin cancer. I wanted to know, as a doctor, what he thinks is the most important message for people. He says we all need to do self-exams and ideally, go to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon at least once a year to check for any suspicious growths or changes. Squamous cell carcinoma, the type of cancer Laura Bush has, can often appear as a rough or scaly patch and requires a biopsy, Dr. Antell says...
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