Spot skin cancer

Spot Skin Cancer Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, with more than 3.5 million cases affecting more than two million people each year. Early detection and treatment is the key, which is why it's vital to pay attention to moles and other marks on your skin. There are three main kinds of skin cancer: Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, the most lethal form. In addition, there are "precancers" called actinic keratoses, along with iffy moles (dysplastic nevi) that could be worrisome. Your doctor can check your skin carefully during a routine cancer-related check-up. Many doctors also recommend that you check your own skin about once a month. Look at your skin in a well-lit room in front of a full-length mirror. Use a hand-held mirror to look at areas that are hard to see.

Who should do it You should! And if you have children, begin teaching them how to do this at an early age so they can do it themselves by the time they are teens. Coupled with yearly skin exams by a doctor, self-exams are the best way to ensure that you don't become a statistic in the battle against skin cancer.

When to do it Performed regularly, self-examination can alert you to changes in your skin and aid in the early detection of skin cancer. It should be done often enough to become a habit, but not so often as to feel like a bother. For most people, once a month is ideal, but make sure to ask your doctor if you should do more frequent checks. You may find it helpful to have a doctor do a full-body exam first, to assure you that any existing spots, freckles, or moles are normal or treat any that may not be.

What to look for Basal and squamous cell skin cancers are not as dangerous as melanoma, but they are much more common.Basal cell carcinomas, or cancers, usually grow on areas that get the most sun, such as the face, head, and neck. But they can show up anywhere. Look for:

●Flat, firm, pale or yellow areas, similar to a scar ●Raised reddish patches that might be itchy ●Small, pink or red, translucent, shiny, pearly bumps, which might have blue, brown, or black areas ●Open sores that don’t heal, or that heal and then come back Squamous cell carcinomas, or cancers, also tend to grow on areas that get sun, such as the face, ear, neck, lip, and hands. But they can also show up anywhere. Look for: ●Rough or scaly red patches, which might crust or bleed ●Raised growths or lumps, sometimes with a lower area in the center ●Open sores that don’t heal, or heal and then come back Not all skin cancers look like these descriptions, though, so point out anything you’re concerned about to your doctor. That would include: ●Any new spots ●Any spot that doesn’t look like others on your body ●Any sore that doesn’t heal ●Redness or new swelling beyond the border of a mole ●Oozing, scaliness, or bleeding Don't overlook it. Don't delay. Make sure to see a physician, preferably one who specializes in diseases of the skin, if you note any change in an existing mole, freckle, or spot or if you find a new one with any of the warning signs of skin cancer.