When it comes to skin cancer it may be easier than you think to overlook important symptoms.  Sherrie Jones is a Registered Nurse who works in dermatology.  She says, “Not everyone knows what to look for with skin cancer and it’s very important that people get an exam at least once a year to have someone evaluate their skin and make sure they do not have anything growing, anything suspicious.”  Lee Cancer Care sponsors dozens of free skin cancer screenings like this one in Fort Myers.  These mini-skin exams only take a matter of minutes but they can alert you to symptoms that could save your life. 

Sherrie says “In a skin cancer screening you only do the exposed areas.  If we do find something suspicious then we do inform that patient or that person that’s visiting.  We give them paperwork that explains what we found that day and recommend that they see a dermatologist.”  The screenings aren’t just for older folks.  Sherrie says just because you are young doesn’t mean that you are not at risk for developing skin cancer.  “I had a lady today that told me that her granddaughter at the age of 21 developed melanoma so it’s a good idea to start young with your skin cancer screenings on a regular basis don’t wait until you are 60 years old.”  In fact physicians say we accrue most of our sun damage in the first 20 years of life.  Places not exposed to the sun can also become cancerous.  Skin cancer symptoms you can look for include changes in moles and new spots on the skin or a pot that itches, bleeds or will not heal properly.