Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, with an American Cancer Society report indicating more than 1 million cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. Skin cancer has a highly curable rate when caught early, which is why it's vital to make sure you regularly look for signs of cancer on every inch of your body. Fortunately, it's a simple process and doesn't take any special equipment, just a few items you probably already have around your house.
Step 1
Use the ABCDE method to examine moles on your body. ABCDE stands for: Asymmetry, where one half of the mole doesn't match the other; Border, with the edges of a mole ragged, notched or blurred; Color, where pigmentation isn't uniform and may be unusual such as red, pink, white, gray, blue or black; Diameter, where moles are larger than 6 millimeters or 1/4 inch across, about the size of a pencil eraser; Elevation, with a mole being raised above the skin with an uneven surface.
Step 2
Stand without clothing in front of a full-length mirror in good lighting after a bath or shower. Have a hand-held mirror nearby to examine small areas and magnify suspicious areas, as needed.
Step 3
Start at the top, your head, by examining your face, especially the nose, lips, mouth and ears, and then your scalp and the back of your neck, using a blow-dryer to move hair out of the way and expose each section. Use one or two mirrors as needed to get a clear view of harder-to-see areas.
Step 4
Focus on the front of the neck, chest and torso. Women will need to lift their breasts to view the underside. Use the hand-held mirror in combination with the full-length mirror so you can check your shoulders, back, and backs of your arms. Don't forget to check the underarm areas, too.
Step 5
Check the front of your arms, then your hands, wrists, palms and backs of the hands, as well as the areas between fingers and under the fingernails.
Step 6
Examine your legs in front and back, using the two-mirror method, as needed. Be sure and check the sides of the legs, as well as the inner thighs, calves and buttocks. Sitting down in a chair, check your genital area, the soles of your feet, your toenails and the areas between the toes.
Step 7
Write down the locations of moles in a diary or monthly mole checklist chart, using a tape measure to note the sizes of each. Use a camera to photograph each mole area, and keep the pictures with the chart as a base reference for noting any future changes.
Tips and Warnings
- If you have a friend or family member who can help you, it will make it easier to check hard-to-see places such as the neck, back and backs of the thighs, and to take pictures of moles on your back.
- If you find what appears to be a possible skin cancer, don't just assume that it's nothing. Always seek medical attention as soon as you can with your general physician or dermatologist. Other signs for concern include a change in sensation, such as itchiness, tenderness or pain, and changes in the surface of a mole, including scaling, oozing, bleeding, or bumpiness.
Things You'll Need
- Hand magnifying mirror
- Full-length mirror
- Chair
- Camera
- Tape measure
- Diary or monthly mole check chart
