If you can spot it, you can stop it. Early detection is very important. Monthly skin self-exams and annual checks by a board-certified dermatologist (especially if you are over 50) are your best methods to avoid becoming a statistic in the skin cancer battle. Caught early, skin cancers are highly treatable. Ask your dermatologist to teach you how to self examine. Some common warning signs to look for are a non-healing lesion, a spot that changes color or bleeds, a shiny bump or pink growth, a scar-like area, a new or enlarging growth and brown, black or multicolored lesions. Unless you’re a dermatologist, it can be hard to tell. Schedule an appointment if you are unsure. Often a trained dermatologist can put your mind at ease by simply looking at the lesion. Biopsies are only needed for suspicious lesions.
Your new growth deserves a dermatologic evaluation if it has persisted for more than a couple of weeks. With luck it will be benign (non-cancerous). If not, you’ve caught it early.