The ‘silent’ symptom of deadly skin cancer you can spot on your feet – and 8 other sign
THE warm weather is well and truly here – and it seems like it’s here to stay.
Last weekend the UK reached a blistering 32C – the hottest temperature of the year so far.
And this weekend, parts of the UK as set to reach a glorious 27C.
While it can be fun to bask in the heat and get your tan on, the sun’s rays can bring a real danger of skin cancer.
Melanoma, the most serious skin cancer, is diagnosed 16,000 times a year.
The deadly cancer takes the lives of 2,340 people per year, according to Cancer Research UK.
It develops on skin that gets too much sun.
But the disease can also begin in places where the sun rarely shines, such as your foot.
Because most people never check their feet for signs of melanoma, this cancer often spreads before it’s noticed.
One sign on your foot you must look out for are open sores – or cuts that heal and quickly return, the NHS says.
Like with any cancer, survival rates are best when the illness is detected fast.
That’s why it’s worth knowing the 8 other signs when it comes to skin cancer.
The most common sign of melanoma is the appearance of a new mole or a change in an existing mole.
- Mole with a mix of colours
- Large mole
- Mole that changes over time
- Swollen mole
- Bleeding mole
- Itchy mole
- Crusty mole
- Mole in the shape of a line under a nail
In women, the most common specific location for melanoma skin cancers in the UK is the legs.
Men are more likely to see melanomas in their trunk – the back or torso.