Spot Check

“A lot of melanomas are found by patients or their relatives, not by doctors,” says Dr. Mariusz Sapijaszko, president of the Canadian Dermatology Association. Do a monthly check using the ABCDE method, and don’t forget hard-to-see places like your back, a frequent site for skin cancer.

( A) SYMMETRY

Melanomas are often lopsided; ordinary moles usually aren’t.

( B) ORDER

Plain old moles typically have a smooth, distinct edge, while melanomas look more irregular and ragged.

(C) OLOUR

Benign moles tend to be one even shade, whereas melanomas can have a mix of colours, such as red, grey, white, black and brown.

( D) IAMETER

Melanoma lesions are often (though not always) more than six millimetres wide.

(E) VOLUTION

If a mole changes in colour, size, shape or symptom (like bleeding or feeling itchy), see a doctor. 6 mm