Skin cancer of the lip

* Asymmetry: Melanomas and other skin cancers usually have irregular shapes.

* Border: They often have ragged and poorly defined edges or rolled borders.

* Color: They can be very dark, multicolored or mottled with shades of black, brown and tan, or even white, gray, red or blue. Basal cell cancer can be indicated by pink growths or pale, yellow or waxy scarlike areas.

* Diameter. They may be larger than a quarter-inch (the size of an eraser tip). Basal cell can appear as larger reddish patches, which may crust, itch or hurt.

To perform a self-exam, start with your face and scalp. Pay close attention to your nose, lips, mouth and ears; use a hand mirror to examine the backs of your ears and your scalp. (If you have thick hair, a blow-dryer can clear a visible path; ask a friend or family member to help you.)

Check your hands thoroughly, including under your nails and between your fingers, and work up toward your shoulders. Use a full-length mirror to see the sides of your upper arms, elbows and underarms.

Next, examine the front of your neck, chest and torso. Finish your upper body using the hand mirror and the full-length mirror. Start with the back of your neck, then the backs of your shoulders and upper arms and continue down to your lower back.

Using both mirrors, inspect your buttocks and the backs of your legs. Sit down to inspect your feet, including under the toenails, between the toes, and the soles. Move up the ankles, shins, thighs, and sides of both legs.

Finally, since skin cancer can appear in those keep-it-covered places, examine your genital area using the hand mirror.

NOT QUITE CANCER

Certain conditions are associated with the eventual development of squamous cell carcinoma, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. They include:

* Actinic keratoses: These are rough, scaly, slightly raised growths that range in color from brown to red and may be up to once inch in diameter.

* Actinic cheilitis: A type of actinic keratosis that occurs on the lips (usually the lower lip), it causes the skin to become dry, cracked, scaly, and pale or white.

* Leukoplakia: This condition is marked by white patches on the tongue or inside the mouth.

* Bowen's disease: This is a superficial squamous cell cancer that hasn't yet spread. It appears as a persistent red-brown, scaly patch, which may resemble psoriasis or eczema.