Examine skin every month

A LEADING dermatologist advises monthly self-checks to spot signs of skin cancer. The ideal time is after a bath or shower and it should be done in a well-lit room with a fulllength mirror. Look at the entire body – from scalp to toes – and get someone trusted to help check areas you cannot see. For instance, mum Lauri Murphy had one on her neck.

Signs to look for include new moles, odd-looking moles or any lesion that bleeds or fails to heal.

Dr Anjali Mahto, from the British Skin Foundation, advises people to look out for an ABCDE list of signs: Asymmetry: One half of the mole is different to the other. Border: Irregular, scalloped or poorly defined edge. Colour: Uneven or variable colours within a mole. Diameter: Mole is over 6mm. Evolving: Mole is changing in size, shape or colour.