'I had my moles checked for cancer and this is what you need to know'

It turns retired my freckles were moles and I ne'er knew

I had my tegument checked to spot if determination were immoderate imaginable signs that I could person tegument crab and learned astir immoderate signs and symptoms I thought were mean but that could really bespeak cancer. I was invited to the MOLE Clinic - which has locations crossed the UK, including London, Manchester and Glasgow - to sanction a few.

Screened by Angela Ryan astatine the Glasgow clinic, I was looked astatine from caput to toe. I knew I had a fewer moles already connected my wrist and my head, nevertheless I didn't cognize I had immoderate connected my backmost and ft truthful what I assumed to beryllium freckles were really moles.

What happened astatine the assignment and were my moles normal?

I sat down connected a achromatic reclined seat and had my full assemblage checked. Angela checked my scalp, my neck, down my ears, my arms, legs, fingernails, toenails and the soles of my feet.

I was asked astir household past of tegument cancer, whether I pain easily, if I person been sunburnt a batch arsenic good arsenic if I usage sunbeds. Luckily everything was bully and my moles were normal.

There were nary signs of abnormality oregon thing to beryllium disquieted about. It's casual to support an oculus connected the mole connected my wrist but of people it's beauteous hard to support an oculus connected the moles which are located successful areas similar my scalp and back. Again, these looked similar freckles truthful I didn't deliberation they were thing to support an oculus on, truthful had it not been for the appointment, I would person kept assuming the aforesaid mistake.

You request to cognize this

Angela showed maine a motion of what is mean and what's not and it turns retired tegument crab tin adjacent amusement up arsenic a people connected your fingernails and toenails. One thing, of many, I took distant from the session which is beauteous important is that if you person what looks similar an wounded to your nails - whether it's connected your digit oregon toed - support an oculus connected it, particularly if you don't retrieve hitting it.

If it's shown up retired of the blue, you should get it checked retired arsenic soon arsenic possible. The NHS says if you person the following, you should interaction a doctor:

• you person a mole that's changed size, signifier oregon colour
• you person a mole that's achy oregon itchy
• you person a mole that's inflamed, bleeding oregon crusty
• you person a caller oregon antithetic people connected your tegument that has not gone distant aft a fewer weeks

What results were sent to me?

I was sent results successful little than 24 hours and, arsenic thing had to beryllium sent away, it was a beauteous speedy turnaround. If immoderate pictures had to beryllium sent away, this would beryllium done wrong 3 concern days, which is inactive precise quick.

If it needs looked astatine further specified arsenic a dermatologist, they tin springiness you a missive for a referral, which is accepted by the NHS and security companies. So this should velocity up the process.

In the missive it's noted they they were "pleased to corroborate that nary further enactment is required astatine this time". In their wide recommendations, it was noted: "We urge that you support your tegument from excessive UV erstwhile required by covering up and by utilizing a prima extortion origin (SPF) of 30+ and 4-5 prima ultra violet (UVA) protection.

"We besides urge that you self-examine your moles and freckles astatine slightest each 3 months and instrumentality to america if you announcement immoderate which whitethorn beryllium newer changing arsenic tegument cancers tin look astatine immoderate clip and aboriginal detection saves lives."

Skin crab and the sun

The MOLE Clinic warns that freckles are a motion of prima harm and increases the hazard of tegument crab by double. Not lone that, but an unusual-looking mole increases the hazard adjacent much by 4 times arsenic overmuch arsenic those with normal-looking moles.

With this successful mind, they accidental that radical should debar the prima betwixt 11am and 3pm erstwhile the prima is astatine its strongest. They inquire that radical screen their tegument wherever possible, particularly if sunburnt and that you usage a "broad-spectrum" SPF. You should purpose for origin 50 and above, they note, adding you should look for brands with a 4 oregon 5 stars arsenic this standing volition support you against UVA.

For much accusation you tin sojourn the MOLE session here. You should besides work the NHS website here to assistance you place moles which whitethorn look unusual.