Skin Cancer? What to look for

In honor of being cancer free for three years yesterday I think it is important to provide you with some resources on what to look for as red flags for skin cancer. One of the most IMPORTANT things you can do to catch skin cancer early is to KNOW your own body. Yes, the doctor can detect wierd looking moles, but you are the best candidate to see if they changed. If I wouldn't have had the gut feeling that my mole was wierd and pointed it out to my doctor who knows where I would be today. The ABCDE's are things you should be looking for in your moles when you perform monthly self skin checks.

A= Asymmetry- If you were to cut the mole in half each side should look the same.

 

B= Border- The border should be smooth all around. No jagged or uneven edges.


C= Color- The mole is one uniform color.

 

D= Diameter- The mole should be no larger than a pencil top eraser.

E= Evolving- If the mole changes in any way-shape, color, funny border, elevation, itching, bleeding, or crusting.

 

Skin Check:
Here is a step by step guide on how to perform a personal skin check. If you do not feel comfortable doing this yourself ask your partner to help you.
What you'll need: a bright light, a full-length mirror, a hand mirror, 2 chairs or stools, a blow dryer, body maps and a pencil.

1	Examine your face, especially the nose, lips, mouth, and ears - front and back. Use one or both mirrors to get a clear view.
2	Thoroughly inspect your scalp, using a blow dryer and mirror to expose each section to view. Get a friend or family member to help, if you can.
3	Check your hands carefully: palms and backs, between the fingers and under the fingernails. Continue up the wrists to examine both front and back of your forearms.
4	Standing in front of the full-length mirror, begin at the elbows and scan all sides of your upper arms. Don't forget the underarms
5	Next focus on the neck, chest, and torso. Women should lift breasts to view the underside.
6	With your back to the full-length mirror, use the hand mirror to inspect the back of your neck, shoulders, upper back, and any part of the back of your upper arms you could not view in step 4.
7	Still using both mirrors, scan your lower back, buttocks, and backs of both legs.
8	Sit down; prop each leg in turn on the other stool or chair. Use the hand mirror to examine the genitals. Check front and sides of both legs, thigh to shin, ankles, tops of feet, between toes and under toenails. Examine soles of feet and heels.	*Guide and pictures are courtesy of The Skin Cancer Foundation