May is Melanoma Awareness Month
86% of cases of melanoma are preventable yet increasing numbers of people are being diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. There are now more than 16,000 new cases each year in the UK.
We want to encourage everyone to be sun-safe, and for anyone who has noticed changes in their skin to contact their GP. Many of these moles or lesions do NOT end up being anything serious, however, it is always important to be diagnosed early.
Get involved!
You can help spread our awareness messages and help reduce cases of melanoma:
- Show your support on social media with the hashtag #KnowYourSkin
- Download and use our #KnowYourSkin posters to raise awareness. You may see these in motorway service stations in May
- Download our skin check leaflets to help you monitor your skin
- Check your skin – contact your GP if you notice new or changing moles or lesions
- Protect your skin from the sun – use SPF 30+ sunscreen
If you have been affected by melanoma, you can call our free and confidential Melanoma Helpline on 0808 801 0777
Facts about melanoma skin cancer in the UK:
- Melanoma skin cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in males and the 3rd most common in females in the 15-44 age group
- 1 in 36 males and 1 in 47 females will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in their lifetime
- Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer
- 86% of melanoma skin cancer cases are preventable
- Melanoma skin cancer is increasing in the UK; before Covid rates had more than doubled since the 1990s
Thank you for being smart about skin cancer and helping to reduce cases of melanoma
If you would like to support our work with a donation, please click here.
If you would like to know more about what we do and how we help, please click here
Thank you