Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and Idaho is among the states with the highest number of skin cancer cases and death rates.

“We need to be aware that skin cancer is a problem in our state and take steps to protect ourselves,” said Lisa Cramer, a registered nurse and coordinator of Panhandle Health District’s (PHD) comprehensive cancer program.

PHD is part of the North Idaho Cancer Coalition that’s encouraging northern Idaho residents to participate in free skin cancer spot checks this spring in Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint. Here are skin cancer warning signs that should be checked:

• Skin growths that increase in size and appear pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black or multicolored;

• A mole, birthmark, beauty mark or any brown spot that changes color, increases in size or thickness, changes in texture, has an irregular outline, is bigger than a quarter inch or appears after age 21;

• A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, scab, erode or bleed;

• An open sore that doesn’t heal within three weeks.

The free spot checks are April 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kootenai Cancer Center in Coeur d’Alene and June 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kootenai Cancer Center at Bonner General Hospital in Sandpoint.

More than 1 million cases of melanoma (skin cancer) are diagnosed nationally each year. Between 2002 and 2006, 218 of the 1,588 people in Idaho diagnosed with melanoma died. In 2008, 112 cases of melanoma were diagnosed in the five northern counties; 360 cases were diagnosed statewide..

People who are at the greatest risk for skin cancer have:

• a personal or family history of melanoma;

• light-colored skin, hair and eyes;

• moles, particularly many or unusually large ones;

• been exposed to ultra-violet radiation from the sun or tanning beds;

• received one or two blistering sunburns before age 18.

People can help prevent skin cancer by avoiding exposure to the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when UV rays are the strongest. Wearing protective clothing helps as well as using sunscreen rated at least SPF 15. People also can help prevention by examining their skin monthly and visiting a doctor for a skin exam annually.