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"Here&amp;#039;s another good reason to check yourself for suspicious-looking skin growths -- and to ask your doctor to regularly examine you for the same thing:  Patients are more than twice as likely as doctors to discover malignant melanomas, according to a Johns Hopkins University study of 102 people recently diagnosed with skin cancer. But while doctors were responsible for finding fewer tumors, they found them at an earlier, more treatable stage. These tumors were often lesions on parts of the body that are hard to see yourself, primarily the back and buttocks. They were also much thinner than the ones discovered by patients. This underscores the need for regular allover skin checks by your doctor, who may spot something that you missed.  The study also suggests how important it is for you to become knowledgeable about your skin and comfortable with examining yourself. This means looking over your entire body, including your back, your scalp, the soles of your feet, and between your toes. If there are any changes in the size, color, shape, or texture of a mole, or if you develop a new one after age 21, see your doctor. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/advice/a1533/checking-skin-cancer-nov01/?src=shelter_footer>