early diagnosis of cancer improves outcomes by starting treatment at the earliest possible stage when treatment is most likely to be successful an important step in early diagnosis is spotting changes in your body and bringing them to the attention of your doctor so the reason for the important role in helping you spot changes skin self-exam the best way to recognize changes to your skin is to examine yourself head-to-toe every month • a new growth or an existing growth that changes in texture or colour • an open sore that does not heal within three weeks how perform a skin self-exam separate your hair and expose every section of your easier if you can get a family member or friend to help your underarms buttocks • examine your genitals using a hand mirror including the soles and your toes
