Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer that affects 7,000 people each year in the UK. While it is not the most common skin cancer it causes the most deaths. 

 

Unlike many other cancers, which often only occur later in life, melanoma affects and kills young patients - those in their twenties or thirties - and a quarter of melanoma patients are 45 or under. By the year 2010, the lifetime risk of developing it is 1:50 - back in the 1930's, the risk was only 1:1500

 

Although the number of people affected by melanoma is doubling every decade, there has been little improvement in the treatment of the disease over the last 50 years.

 

Unfortunately, there is no cure for melanoma. Melanoma is one of the cancers that won't respond to conventional chemotherphy

Once the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the survival rate is often measured in months, rather than years.

 

UV exposure is the major contributors to the development of melanoma. Always wear sunscreen of at least SPF15...even in the UK.

 

WARNING SIGNS

*change in the size, shape or colour of a mole

*Oozing or bleeding from a mole

*a mole that feel itchy, hard, lumpy, swollen or tender to the touch

*Melanoma can also appear on the body as a new mole