How can I check my skin for cancer?

Everyone can check themselves for new growths and other changes in the skin. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. The cure rate for this disease could be 100 percent if all cases were found and brought to a doctor's attention before they had a chance to spread.

The best time to do a skin self-exam is after a shower or bath. Check your skin in a well-lighted room using a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror. Begin by learning where your birthmarks, moles and blemishes are and what they usually look like.

Look at the front and back of your body in the mirror, then raise your arms and look at the left and right sides. Bend your elbows and check your palms and forearms, including the undersides and upper arms.

Examine the back and front of the legs. Also look between the buttocks and around the genital area. Sit and examine the feet, including the soles and the spaces between the toes.

Check your face, neck and scalp. You may want to use a comb or a blow dryer to move hair so that you can see better.

By checking your skin regularly, you will know what is normal. See your doctor right away if you find anything unusual or different, such as a new mole, a change in the size, texture or color of an existing wart or mole, or a sore that does not heal.

In addition, you can have your doctor check your skin during routine physical exams.

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