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At Redbank Medical Centre, we are able to provide regular and thorough skin checks.  The sooner a skin cancer is identified and treated, the better your chance of avoiding surgery or further complications. It's important to get to know your skin and what is normal for you, so that you notice any changes. Skin cancers rarely hurt and are much more frequently seen than felt.

  • Make sure you check your entire body as skin cancers can sometimes occur in parts of the body not exposed to the sun, for example soles of the feet, between fingers and toes and under nails.

  • Undress completely and make sure you have good light.

  • Use a mirror to check hard to see spots, like your back and scalp, or get a family member, partner or friend to check it for you.

Check it yourself

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Ask for help

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How to check your skin

There are a number of types of skin cancer to be aware off. Some are more dangerous than others.​

Melanoma

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  • Most deadly form of skin cancer.

  • If left untreated can spread to other parts of the body.

  • Appears as a new spot or an existing spot that changes in colour, size or shape.

  • Can appear on skin not normally exposed to the sun.

Nodular Melanoma

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  • Grows quickly.

  • Looks different from common melanomas. Raised and even in colour.

  • Many are red or pink and some are brown or black.

  • They are firm to touch and dome-shaped.

  • After a while they begin to bleed and crust.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

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  • Most common, least dangerous form of skin cancer.

  • Red, pale or pearly in colour, appears as a lump or dry, scaly area.

  • May ulcerate or fail to completely heal.

  • Grows slowly, usually on areas that are often exposed to the sun.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

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  • A thickened, red scaly spot that may bleed easily, crust or ulcerate.

  • Grows over some months, usually on areas often exposed to the sun.

  • More likely to occur in people over 50 years of age.

What to look for

The ABCDE of melanoma detection can be a useful guide when checking your skin.

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A is for Asymmetry

Look for spots that lack symmetry. That is, if a line was drawn through the middle, the two sides would not match up.

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B is for Border

A spot with a spreading or irregular edge (notched).

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C is for Colour

Blotchy spots with a number of colours such as black, blue, red, white and/or grey.

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D is for Diameter

Look for spots that are getting bigger.

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E is for Evolving

Spots that are changing and growing

These are some changes to look out for when checking your skin for signs of any cancer:

  • New moles.

  • Moles that increases in size.

  • An outline of a mole that becomes notched.

  • A spot that changes colour from brown to black or is varied.

  • A spot that becomes raised or develops a lump within it.

  • The surface of a mole becoming rough, scaly or ulcerated.

  • Moles that itch or tingle.

  • Moles that bleed or weep.

  • Spots that look different from the others.

ABCDE melanoma detection guide

The above information is provided by Cancer Council.

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