The process of detecting skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States, can be practiced with a monthly self examination combined with a yearly visit to your doctor. Early detection is key because, if diagnosed soon enough, skin cancer is almost always curable.
There are three main types of skin cancer, all of which are visible if you know what to look for. Melanoma, one of the main forms of skin cancer, is the deadliest. This disease is the most difficult to stop after it has spread throughout the body, which is why early detection and treatment are crucial. Skin cancer, of any kind, can usually be treated with success in its early stages.
As individuals, everyone has freckles, birthmarks and moles. These are a part of you and you are used to seeing them, but you may not notice slight changes right away and thats what you need to be watching for. Any change in a moles shape, edges, size or color should be checked by a physician. If a mole becomes larger than that of a pencil eraser or if its color is multiple shades of brown rather than a solid color, these are both potential warning signs of skin cancer. A moles border should be well defined...