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You should keep an eye out for any moles or dark spots on the skin that change in size, shape, or color, become bigger, itchy or inflamed, or bleed. All these may be symptoms of skin cancer and should be checked by a doctor. Once a mole has been identified as a potential melanoma, it is removed under local anaesthetic and sent for examination. Most turn out to be harmless. Of the three forms of skin cancer the two most common varieties – basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are easily treatable and rarely fatal, and even melanomas can be treated effectively if caught in time.