[ad_1]
Self Exam: Skin
Do you spend a lot of time in the sun? Perhaps you get a glow from a tanning bed. Either way, screening for skin cancer is important for everyone, including women.
The American Cancer Society says “Regular skin self-exams are especially important for people who are at higher risk of skin cancer, such as people with reduced immunity, people who have had skin cancer before, and people with a strong family history of skin cancer.” Ask your doctor how often you should examine your skin.
Check your skin in a well-lit room using a mirror. You can use a hand-held mirror to look at areas that are hard to see. Not all skin cancers look the same, notes the source. That said, in universal, you’ll want to look for expanding or changing skin growths and spots, rough scaly patches, wart-like growths, moles that change in size, and moles with odd shapes, irregular borders, or areas with different colors.
Ask Your Doctor About Other Screenings
It’s important to have a conversation with your doctor about what other health screenings you should have. For example, women don’t typically start screening for colon cancer until age 45, however, if you have a strong family history, have inflammatory bowel disease, or polyps your doctor may recommend regular screenings at an earlier age.
Talk to your doctor about which ailments and diseases you’re at risk for. From there they can help you determine when you should start screening and how to do it.
[ad_2]
Source link