That's Fit

Here's a habit you might want to incorporate into your workout routine -- checking your feet. Sound a little odd?

Once your workout is complete and you strip off those shoes and socks, make sure you look at every nook and cranny on those stinky pinkies. This practice might just help you identify suspicious moles that may lead to skin cancer.

Melanoma of the foot is the deadliest type of skin cancer because it's rarely caught early. So look at the top, the bottom, and the sides of your feet. Check your toes, your nail beds -- take off that toenail polish, ladies, and really look -- and then take a peek at your legs.

Did you know the most common site of melanoma for women is the lower extremities? Check out this young woman's blog. Miss Melanoma is her name, and she writes all about life with this deadly cancer. She'll tell you how she lost part of her foot to the disease and how she manages her post-cancer. She'll inspire you to do the right thing. I promise.

Skin cancer has become so common in recent years I think most people could name at least a few of the signs to look for when wondering if a "spot" is cancerous or not. But the ABCD rule -- asymmetry, border irregularity, color irregularity, and large diameter -- has actually become somewhat dangerous. How is that possible? A study out of Australia shows that often melanomas (the fastest growing and most deadly form of skin cancer) do not have any of the ABCD characteristics, and actually go so far as to be completely opposite (regular borders, even color, symmetrical, etc). They are, though, usually itchy or bleeding and elevated.

So what's the best way to be safe? Have any growing or changing skin lesion checked by a professional asap, whether it fits any symptom set or not.