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Are You at High Risk for Skin Cancer?

If you discover any unusual growth on your skin, go to your doctor or to a dermatologist. The only way to ensure that the growth is not cancerous is to remove some or all of the suspicious tissue and examine it under a microscope.

Many doctors recommend that a good way to monitor your skin for abnormal growths is to perform a skin self exam monthly. The following quiz, while not definitive, can help you determine whether you are in a high-risk group for skin cancer.

After you've answered the following questions, click "Done" to find out your results.

  1. Have you ever had skin cancer?
    Yes    No
  2. Have any members of your immediate family (mother, father and siblings) ever been diagnosed with skin cancer?
    Yes    No
  3. Do you have blond or red hair?
    Yes    No
  4. Do you have blue or green eyes?
    Yes    No
  5. Do you have a lot of freckles?
    Yes    No
  6. If you are not wearing a sunscreen, does your skin begin to burn after being in the sun for 15 to 20 minutes?
    Yes    No
  7. Do you have an outdoor occupation?
    Yes    No
  8. Do you participate in outdoor sports or recreational activities?
    Yes    No
  9. Do you live in a high-altitude area (8,500 feet or more above sea level)?
    Yes    No
  10. Did you have multiple blistering sunburns before age 18?
    Yes    No
  11. Did you grow up in a sunny climate?
    Yes    No
  12. Do you fail to regularly use sunscreens with an SPF (sun-protection factor) of at least 15?
    Yes    No
  13. Do you have an irregular mole or a mole larger than 1/4 inch in diameter?
    Yes    No
  14. Do you have numerous moles on your skin?
    Yes    No

Sources:

American Cancer Society
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
American Academy of Dermatology

This screening assessment was reviewed and updated June 2007.

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