Skin cancer: If you can spot it You can stop it.
Skin cancer can lead to disfigurement and even death. But if treated early, it is almost always curable. Coupled with a yearly skin exam by a doctor, self-examination of your skin every three months is the best way to detect the early warning signs of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma, the main types of skin cancer. Look for a new growth or any skin change.

What You'll Need; a bright light: a full-length mirror; a hand mirror; two chairs or stools; a blow-dryer.

Examine head and
face, using one or both mirrors.
Use blow-dryer to inspect scalp.

                  Check hands, including nails. In full-length mirror, examine elbows arms, underarms.                                

Focus on neck, chest, torso.
Women: Check under breasts.

With back to mirror, use hand mirror to inspect back of neck. shoulders, upper arms, back, buttocks, legs

Sitting down, check legs and feet,
including soles, heels, and nails.
Use hand mirror to examine genitals.

Malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is especially hard to stop once it has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. But it can be readily treated in its earliest stages.

Concept and Photographs: Robert J. Friedman. M.D., Affred W. Kopf, M.D„ Darrell S. Rigel, M.D.
Copyright 1996, The Skin Cancer Foundation.