The average person does not want to trouble his or her doctor with every phantom illness or trouble.
It is hard to know when the phantom has taken substance to become a tangible problem that must be addressed.
Unfortunately, when it comes to skin cancer, many people only seek help when it is too late.
They have developed an incurable form of skin cancer, or they will have to undergo painful treatment, which will leave large and distressing scars.
A scar is certainly better than death, but neither one has to happen.
There are a few things you can do to help yourself avoid either possibility.
One of these is to check your body regularly to assess the shape, size, and color of your moles.
Do not obsess about it, but make it part of your routine every six months or so.
There is no minimum or maximum age at which a person could be struck with skin cancer.
Moles should be a regular shape that has not changed over time.
The edges should be defined and the color of a healthy mole will be consistent all the way across.
An unhealthy mole might feature a blend of colors including blue and grey.
It could have a rough border and take a strange shape.
The entire mole will often change and grow from the size and appearance of a freckle to something several millimeters in diameter.
It could appear seemingly overnight, however.
Another thing you could (and should) do is have someone else check your moles for melanoma symptoms and do the same in return.
For instance, ask your spouse or willing friend to check areas, which you cannot see, such as your back.
A better option if you have any worries is to approach a company that will look more closely at your moles and provide analysis.
Clinicians can then tell you if any moles are problematic.
Have you spent many hours roasting in the sun during your life? Did you usually apply oil and get a tan? Assess your risk of developing skin cancer, the world's most prevalent form of the disease.
You might not see a dangerous mole appear until years after you were over-exposed or had your last sunburn.
Then again, even if you covered up and sought shade on every sunny day you can remember, do not think this means you are completely safe.
Check your family history and be vigilant.
It is important not to panic about skin cancer or its most deadly form, melanoma, but awareness is important too.