What should you know about free melanoma check?

Melanoma is a skin cancer arising from pigment-producing cells. During a check, a clinician asks about a lesion's history and examines it, often using magnification or another skin-assessment method. The aim is to identify features that need closer investigation; a screening check cannot confirm melanoma by appearance alone.

If a lesion is suspicious, the next step may include Surgical Excision or another biopsy so tissue can be examined. Further care depends on the result and the depth or spread of disease. Follow-Up After Cancer Treatment may be advised for people who have previously had melanoma.

Ask the service whether the check is free, who can use it, and whether a referral or appointment is needed. Before attending, note when the lesion changed and whether it has bled, crusted, itched, or become painful. Check the rest of your skin, including the scalp, soles, palms, and areas covered by clothing, using help for hard-to-see places.

Do not cover a concerning lesion with cosmetic products before an appointment. Bring a list of medicines and previous skin-cancer history. A clear photograph can help show evolution, but it does not replace an examination.

Arrange prompt medical review for a mole or pigmented mark that changes in size, shape, colour, or surface, or becomes persistently itchy, painful, crusted, or bleeding. Seek faster advice for a rapidly changing lesion or a new dark mark that looks unlike the others. Do not wait for a free screening event if a concerning change is present.

What features make this lesion worth monitoring or testing? Do I need a biopsy or Surgical Excision? How soon should I return, and should close relatives help check hard-to-see areas? If melanoma is confirmed, would staging tests, Immunotherapy, or specialist surgery be relevant?