Skin Cancer Screening

• Asymmetry of lesion: Are both sides of the lesion different?
• Border irregularity: Are the edges notched as opposed to smooth?
• Color variegation: Is the lesion a mixture of black, blue, red and white?
• Diameter: Is the diameter greater than six millimeters? (Most melanomas are larger than the head of a pencil.)
• Evolution: Is the lesion growing in width or height?
• Feeling: Has the sensation around a mole or spot changed?

These recommendations serve as a guide. Promptly show your doctor any suspicious skin area, non-healing sore or change in a mole or freckle. If exam results suggest cancer, more extensive diagnostic tests should be conducted.