Malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer is now one of the most common cancers in young adults (aged 15-34) in the UK.
Over the last twenty-five years, rates of melanoma in Britain have risen faster than any other common cancer.
According to Cancer Research UK, 1 in 36 UK males and 1 in 47 UK females will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in their lifetime.
OVER 86% OF ALL MELANOMA AND THE MAJORITY OF ALL OTHER SKIN CANCERS ARE CAUSED BY DAMAGE FROM UV, MAKING THE DISEASE ALMOST ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE!
The sooner skin cancer is identified and treated the better the chance of avoiding surgery or in the case or a serious melanoma or other skin cancer, potential disfigurement or death.
The ‘ABCDE OF MELANOMA’ is a common screening tool used to compare the characteristics of normal moles versus melanoma.
A = ASYMMETRY: when one half of the mole doesn’t match the other.
B = BORDER: when the borders are irregular, ragged or blurred.
C = COLOUR: when the colour changes or varies throughout and/or there appears to be no uniform pigmentation.
D = DIAMETER: when the diameter is greater than 6mm (could be smaller).
E = EVOLVING: changes in the mole over variable time: weeks/months/years.
