Warning signs and early detection

Examine your skin from head to toe monthly. See your doctor if you find any unusual or changing growth. Be suspicious and see your doctor for a professional skin check if you find:

• An open sore that bleeds, oozes or crusts and does not heal (persistent, non healing sore)
• Changes to lesions or moles in size, shape and or colour
• Pigmented spot or growth which are raised and or irregular
• Symptoms of itching or bleeding
• Persistent scaly red patches with irregular borders that sometimes crusts of bleeds

Australia is the skin cancer capital of the world. Luckily skin cancer is almost entirely preventable with sun safety strategies.

For best prevention, Cancer Council recommends a combination of the following:

• Slip on some sun-protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
• Slop on broad spectrum, water resistant SPF30+ sunscreen
• Slap on a hat- broad brim or legionnaire style (not a cap) to protect extremities.
• Seek shade wherever possible.
• Slide on some sunglasses – making sure they meet Australian Standards.

For more information: Skin Cancer foundation: www.skincancer.org