I had my skin checked to see if there were any possible signs that I could have skin cancer and learned about some signs and symptoms I thought were normal but that could actually indicate cancer. I was invited to the MOLE Clinic - which has locations across the UK, including London, Manchester and Glasgow - to name a few.
Screened by Angela Ryan at the Glasgow clinic, I was looked at from head to toe. I knew I had a few moles already on my wrist and my head, however I didn't know I had some on my back and foot so what I assumed to be freckles were actually moles. I sat down on a black reclined chair and had my whole body checked. Angela checked my scalp, my neck, behind my ears, my arms, legs, fingernails, toenails and the soles of my feet.
I was asked about family history of skin cancer, whether I burn easily, if I have been sunburnt a lot as well as if I use sunbeds. Luckily everything was good and my moles were normal. There were no signs of abnormality or anything to be worried about. It's easy to keep an eye on the mole on my wrist but of course it's pretty hard to keep an eye on the moles which are located in areas like my scalp and back. Again, these looked like freckles so I didn't think they were anything to keep an eye on, so had it not been for the appointment, I would have kept assuming the same mistake.
Angela showed me a sign of what is normal and what's not and it turns out skin cancer can even show up as a mark on your fingernails and toenails. One thing, of many, I took away from the clinic which is pretty crucial is that if you have what looks like an injury to your nails - whether it's on your finger or toe - keep an eye on it, especially if you don't remember hitting it.
