EARLY DETECTION = BETTER OUTCOMES
ABCDEs of skin cancer
Skin cancer, which includes melanoma, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, is the most common cancer diagnosis in the U.S. and is one of the most preventable cancers.
Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer and can often present as a suspicious mole. It’s important to check your skin for suspicious moles once a month using the ABCDE rule and report anything unusual to your health care provider. It’s also a good idea to have a health care provider examine your skin every year.
The ABCDE rule:
Asymmetry
One half of the mole doesn’t match the other
Border irregularity
The mole is uneven in shape with jagged, notched or blurred edges
Color
The mole is not consistent in color
Diameter
The mole has a diameter greater than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser)
Evolving
There’s any change in the size, shape, color or elevation or the mole, or you experience any new symptoms (such as bleeding, itching or crusting)
Click here for information on possible signs and symptoms of non-melanoma skin cancers, including basal and squamous cell carcinomas.
If you have a darker skin tone
Skin cancer can be harder to identify on darker skin tones as compared to on light or fair skin tones. If you have darker skin, it’s a good idea to have your skin checks done by a health care provider, like a dermatologist, who is experienced in identifying skin cancer on all skin tones and knows what to look for.
Learn more about cancer in darker skin tonesMore on Skin Safety
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