Basal cell cancers are most common over the age of 60 but can affect younger people.

Most occur on the head, neck upper trunk and shoulders. They grow slowly, can

be flat or raised and tend to scab. Some have blue or grey dots. 99% curable.

Squamous cell cancers grow faster, may have a crusty top and sometimes spread.

Most common on bald heads, ears, shins in older white women, back of hands but

can come anywhere. Sometimes they are painful.

Melanomas will spread unless removed in time and may threaten life, causing over 2,000 deaths

each year in England. Early diagnosis is vital. Watch out for new, growing, changing, odd looking moles

especially on sun damaged skin. Multiple colours (e.g. black, red, blue, grey as well as brown) are worrying.

A new, growing, pink or red lump may be a non-pigmented melanoma and should be checked.

Check yourself-photos of your skin for comparison may help. If a mole does not change over 3 months

it’s probably OK, if it does change then you have a picture to prove it when you see your doctor. Remember,

skin cancer is nearly always curable when caught early. © Stephen Hayes, Botley, Hampshire June 2017.