Learn what to look for and check your skin regularly, as most skin cancers can be cured if they're caught early enough.

Make sure that you or someone else checks “hard-to-get-at” places such as your back, back of your neck and ears and backs of your legs.

What you should watch for

• any change in a birthmark or a mole that changes shape, colour, size or surface
• any new growth on your skin – pale, pearly nodules that may grow larger and crust, or red, scaly, sharply defined patches
• any sore that doesn't heal
• any patch of skin that bleeds, oozes, swells, itches or becomes red and bumpy

If you notice changes or are confused about what you should be looking for, ask your doctor for help.