Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers can be found early. As part of a routine cancer-related checkup, your health care professional should check your skin carefully. He or she should be willing to discuss any doubts or concerns you might have about this exam.

You can also play an important role in finding skin cancer early. It's important to check your own skin, preferably once a month. Learn the pattern of moles, blemishes, freckles, and other marks on your skin so that you'll notice any changes. Self-examination is best done in a well-lit room in front of a full-length mirror. A hand-held mirror can be used for areas that are hard to see.

All areas should be examined, including your palms and soles, scalp, ears, nails, and your back. (For a more thorough description of a skin self-exam, see the American Cancer Society documents, Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection and Why You Should Know About Melanoma.) Friends and family members can also help you with these exams, especially for those hard-to-see areas, such as the lower back or the back of your thighs. Be sure to show your doctor any area that concerns you.

Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers can look like a variety of marks on the skin. The key warning signs are a new growth, a spot or bump that's getting larger (over a few months or 1 to 2 years), or a sore that doesn't heal within 3 months. (See the next section, "How are basal and squamous cell skin cancers diagnosed?" for a more detailed description of what to look for.)