When skin cancer is caught early enough it can almost always be cured. Melanoma, which is the deadliest type of skin cancer has a survival rate of 99 percent after five years. This is only if the tumor is first spotted when it is just a spot located on the skin.
If cancer has started to spread the five-year survival rate drops down to fifteen percent. Since skin cancer is quite curable if it is detected early enough, it is important to note the signs of it so that you can get it taken care of right away. Knowing the signs of a cancerous mole is the best way to ensure that you catch melanoma during the early stages.
Seeing a dermatologist on a regular basis is also a good way to catch skin cancer early on. Here are some things that you should look for on your body in order to catch cancerous cells early on.
1. New Spots
When it comes to skin cancer, one of the first things that you may notice is new spots that appear on your skin. While many people have numerous moles located on their skin from the time they are born, it is important to note any new spots that show up.
You should be familiar with your skin and the spots that are on it. While there are some moles that can become cancerous over time, most of the time melanoma will show up as a new spot on the skin. It is these new spots that you should be worried about. It is typically not normal for new spots to form on the skin.
If you notice that you have new moles that have formed on your skin, anywhere on your body it is a good idea to have the spots checked out by your doctor or dermatologist.