Take a good look at yourself.

• Author: Zipes, Douglas
• Position: Neighborhood Heart Watch - And help prevent sking cancer - Brief Article

Detected early, the deadly melanoma skin cancer can be completely destroyed. It always pays to remain familiar with the skin you're in. You will never grow too old to benefit from such monitoring. After all, even if melanoma were to rob you of just one of your two remaining years on this earth, that theft would still represent half of your remaining lifetime. The past is the past. It's your future that needs to be protected.

If you don't already own one, consider purchasing a digital camera that has the ability to take "macro" photographs. Digital cameras are good investments. They don't require film, plus they allow photographs to be stored, viewed, printed, and e-mailed via a computer. Cameras that can take macro photographs will allow you (or a loved one) to take excellent close-up photos of your skin.

Make it a family affair to photograph each other's skin at least four times a year (e.g., at the beginning of each season).

There is an old saying that "the weakest ink is better than the strongest memory." Armed with photographs, family...