Skin Cancer Questions - Should I worry about this spot?

- By Arwen Mohr
It can be alarming to find a spot on your skin that might be something worrisome, especially if you have had a lot of sun exposure, someone in your family has had skin cancer, or you have had skin cancer yourself.  One common question is: how do I know if a spot could be skin cancer? This can be especially important for people who have many moles, especially since having many moles can also increase skin cancer risk.
The Skin Cancer College of Australasia has a helpful way to remember what signs to look for to determine if a skin spot is worrisome: SCAN your skin.
S - Sore - is the spot painful, tender, burning, itchy, bleeding, scaly or showing symptoms in another way?  This is especially important if the spot doesn't heal in six weeks.  
C - Changing - it can be hard to tell if a spot is changing (size, shape, colour, texture) so taking a photo to compare one to three months later can be helpful. If you decide to see a healthcare professional for the spot, the photo could also be helpful for them to see and compare your photo to how the spot looks when they examine it.
A - Abnormal - is the spot different than the other ones on your body? 
N - New - any new mole especially after the age of 40 should be checked. There are skin spots that can be confusing because they do appear after age 40 and are harmless, so if you are unsure, the best way to know if a spot is worrisome is to have it looked at by a skin cancer medicine doctor. This can be done as a single mole check, but it’s often better to have a full skin check since that one concerning mole may actually be one of many that might be discovered. Now is a good time because in winter and early Spring  it’s easier to cover up after needing a skin biopsy, excision, or topical treatment. Even if that concerning spot ends up being nothing to worry about, it will be a relief to know!

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