Skin cancer awareness
What to look for
Non-Melanoma
Non-melanomas usually appear on areas of skin that are exposed to the sun. The main symptoms to look out for are:
- New sores and lumps that do not heal after a month
- Spots or sores that bleed, itch, develop a crust or hurt
- Unexplained skin ulcers
Melanoma
Most cases of melanoma start with a change to an area of normal skin, which may look like a new mole. Only one-third of cases develop from pre-existing moles. It is important to remember however, that melanoma does not only appear in the obvious sites. It can appear anywhere on the body, including on the scalp, on the palms of the hands, on soles of the feet, between the toes and under the nail bed. These forms of melanoma are often the most aggressive and most difficult to treat. The changes to look out for are:
- New or existing moles which appear to be growing or changing shape
- New or existing moles which are a range of shades of brown and black
- Moles which are larger than 6mm in diameter.
- Moles with ragged edges
