May is Melanoma Awareness month

Did you know that more people die of melanoma per year in the UK than in Australia?! Yet 86% of cases of melanoma are preventable. 

This May we are urging local people to take two simple steps to greatly reduce your risk of developing melanoma skin cancer:

• Check your skin and contact your GP practice if you notice new or changing moles or lesions
• Protect your skin from the sun with SPF30+ sunscreen

Melanoma Focus, a charity who aim to inform and support patients, carers and professionals on melanoma, encourages everyone to ensure they are sun safe and regularly checking their skin.

If you don't know your UVBs from your UVAs click here for more information abut staying safe in the sun and on safe use of sunbeds.

If you are worried about a mole or lesion, contact your GP practice. Many of these moles or lesions do NOT end up being anything serious, however, it is always important to get checked as an early diagnosis is generally curable.

Make sure you know the signs of melanoma and share what you know:

• The appearance of a new mole or lesion on your body could be a sign
• A change in an existing mole or lesion (such as a change in shape, colour bleeding or itching) another

If you would like to know more visit Melanoma Focus for further helpful guides and information.