After spending most of my summer vacation sunbathing at the pool, my skin had developed a rich, dark tan. As the seasons changed and my tan faded, however, I noticed one or two dark spots that didn’t disappear as I expected. I knew they were probably just some dark freckles, but my family is vigilant about this sort of thing. All four of my grandparents have had some form of skin cancer, which is usually caused by sun damage. This puts me at an increased genetic risk of developing skin cancer myself. That’s not a comforting thought, so I arranged to see my doctor right away.

The dermatologist—that’s the fancy name for a skin doctor—examined the skin all over my body. She even combed through my hair to check the skin on my scalp. Whenever she saw moles or large freckles, she noted their size, color, and location.

“Everything I’m seeing right now is fine,” she said, concluding her examination. “No evidence of cancer or anything that might be pre-cancerous. Just make sure to wear sunscreen every day, even in wintertime, even on cloudy days. Make it a habit, and be sure to get another examination every year. I’ll compare your new results with the notes I’ve just taken, and we can make sure that nothing is growing abnormally.”

It was a relief to know that my skin was safe. On the way home from the doctor’s office, I bought a large bottle of sunscreen at the store. It feels a little silly applying sunscreen on cloudy winter days, but hey, it beats worrying about the alternative!

When the narrator returns to the dermatologist for another examination?

A
the doctor will want to see which sunscreen she bought

B
she will be diagnosed with skin cancer

C
none of her dark marks will have grown

D
the doctor will check her records from earlier visits