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You may picture a skin cancer candidate as a blond, blue-eyed and deeply tanned. But the truth is, everyone is at risk for the disease. The most common form of cancer, it strikes 1.2 million Americans each year and accounts for half of all newly diagnosed cancers.

However, by performing a monthly skin self-exam, you can catch potentially cancerous skin conditions when they are still highly curable.

1. a bright light
2. a full-length mirror
3. a hand mirror
4. a chair
5. a blow-dryer

If you notice any of these skin changes, see your healthcare provider immediately. He or she can determine if the condition needs further medical attention:

• any new growths, including sores, lesions, nodules and pearly, waxy, colored or suspicious bumps that may or may not cause pain.
• a change in a spot or in skin color, itching, scaling, bleeding, pain or tenderness
• identify potential malignancies in moles, follow this "ABCD" checklist:
1. Asymmetry. One half doesn't match the other in shape.
2. Border. The mole isn't round but irregular_ with ragged, notched or blurred edges.
3. Color. The mole is not a normal, uniform brown but is instead a varying shade (or shades) of tan, brown, black, red, blue, blue-black or white.
4. Diameter. The mole is about the size of a pencil eraser or a quarter inch in diameter.

• Use a bright light and check your entire body thoroughly.
1. First inspect your face, ears, head and the inside of your mouth using the hand mirror. The blow- dryer will help part your hair for a closer look at your scalp.
2. Next, examine your hands (including your fingernails and palms), elbows, arms and under- arms. Raise your arms and check your right and left sides.
3. Examine your neck, chest and torso. If you're a woman, check beneath your breasts.
4. Use the hand mirror to carefully look at your back, shoulders and the back of your neck. In the full-length mirror, focus on your buttocks and the backs of your legs.
5. Sit down and examine your genitals. Inspect your legs and feet, including your heels, soles, toenails and the area between your toes.

• These days, ozone depletion means the sun's UV rays can do more damage than ever. Taking these protective measures can prevent up to 80 percent of skin cancers.
1. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun's damaging rays are strongest.
2. Always wear sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. Apply 20 minutes before going out- side to allow your skin to absorb the cream.
3. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and clothes that complete- ly cover you, including a long-sleeved shirt and a long skirt or pants.
4. Sport sunglasses that offer UV protection.

Now you can receive Veterans' Healthy Living almost as soon as it's written! To sign up for email delivery, go to:

Check the American Academy of Dermatology web sites: www.aad.org listed below for more information.

When you click the Federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention it sends you to the CDC web page. The CDC is recognized as the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people - at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships. CDC serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States. The page has a lot of information on HIV and other diseases. There is a lot of information on this page that is very informative.

A link to Health Topics A to Z, found in the left column, provides a listing of disease and health topics found on the CDC Web site. It is not yet a complete index of the site. New topics are added on an ongoing basis.

By clicking the Health and Human Services Health Finder site it brings you to the Health Finder web page. Healthfinder is a free gateway to reliable consumer health and human services information developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthfinder can lead you to selected online publications, clearinghouses, databases, web sites, and support and self-help groups, as well as the government agencies and not-for-profit organizations that produce reliable information for the public. The site also has information on aids, the flu, hepatitis c, Medicare, tobacco, and more.