Melanoma Awareness

For women, the most common place for melonoma to develop is on the legs. For men, melanoma is most commonly found on the chest and back – however it is important to note that they can develop anywhere on our body including our eyes, scalp, feet and mouth. Melonomas are more uncommon in areas which are protected from from sun exposure – however, can still be more commonly found under the fingernails or toenails, palms or soles of those who are dark-skinned.

Melanoma is now the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with over 16,000 Brits diagnosed each year, and is also the most deadly of all skin cancers with over 2300 passing away each year. 86% of these cases are preventable, making good practice in protection all the more important.

While the risk of melanoma increases with age, the number of cases in younger people is disproportionately high and indeed, melanoma is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in those aged between 15 and 34. It takes only one sunburn as a child to more than double a person’s chance of developing melanoma, making it all the more important to have an awareness of how to protect yourself from UV rays.

About Melanomas

Remembering the common characteristics of melanoma is as easy as ABCDE – the characteristics of skin damage that doctors tend to seek when diagnosing and classifying melanomas.:

• Asymmetry
• Border
• Colour
• Diameter
• Evolving

Two types of UV rays cause skin cancer – UVB, which causes most sunburns, and UVA which ages the skin. Many will know the danger the sun can present in relation to skin cancers, but just as high-risk are sunbeds/indoor tanning beds, which have been proven to cause cancers.

Protecting Your Skin

Amongst the tips you can follow to help protect your skin from too much UV exposure include:

• Seeking shade whenever possible
• Covering up with clothing
• Wearing sunglasses – remember, melanoma can also occur in the eyes
• Wearing a wide brimmed hat to protect your face
• Trying to avoid the sun between 10:00am – 4:00pm
• Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF30, and reapplying every 1-2 hours.
• Always wearing sunscreen on exposed skin – even in winter

About sunscreens:

Sunscreen can be very useful in keeping you protected – but you shouldn’t rely on sunscreen alone to protect yourself from the sun. Wearing suitable clothing and spending time in the shade when the sun is at its hottest are always advised as actions you can take alongside wearing sunscreen.

When buying sunscreen, the bottle’s label should have:

• a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to protect against UVB; and
• at least 4-star UVA protection

UVA protection can also be indicated by the letters “UVA” in a circle, which indicates that it meets the EU standard. Make sure the sunscreen is not past its expiry date when using it, and make sure not to spend any longer in the sun than you would without sunscreen.

Diagnosis and Treatment

In relation to diagnosing melanoma, you should always speak to your GP if you notice any changes to your skin or moles. GPs can refer you to a specialist clinic if they suspect melanoma, which they’ll assess using the ABCDE characteristics listed above.

In most cases, suspicious moles will be biopsied. You may also have have a test to check if melanoma has spread to your lymph nodes to determine whether cancer is detected elsewhere.

The main treatment for melanoma is surgery. When diagnosed and treated an at an early stage, surgery is usually successful. However, if melanoma isn’t diagnosed until an advanced stage treatment can only usually slow the spread. It is also worth noting that once you have had a melanoma, there is a chance it can return. Visit Melanoma UK to learn more about various stages and treatments.

If you detect any changes to skin or moles, please raise this with your GP immediately. To learn more about detection, check out Melanoma UK’s skin check toolkit via the button below.

Further Support

Melanoma UK, and its sister organisation Skin Cancer UK, exist to benefit and support patients by improving outcomes for those living with melanomas or other skin cancers, as well as supporting their carers.

Other organisations that might be able to provide further support and information include:

• Cancer Care’s patient support group
• Melanoma > Exchange’s discussion group & support community
• Melanoma Focus
• Melanoma-Me
• Cancer Research UK