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The desire to escape the ordinary British rain has pushed melanoma rates of skin cancer.
According to Cancer Research UK, the number of cases of skin cancer has increased by 45% over the last decade.
So, how can you detect a melanoma and when should you see your doctor about a mole that might bother you?
According to the American Cancer Society, there is a simple acronym that could save your life.
And it's as simple as "ABCDE".
(Image: PUBLICITY PICTURE)
L & # 39; asymmetry
Is your mole or birthmark symmetrical?
If one part does not fit the other, this could be a sign for it to be extracted.
Border
If the edges are jagged, jagged, nicked or blurred, this could be a sign of a cancerous mole.
(Image: Daily Mirror)
Color
If the color is not the same everywhere and may include shades of brown or black, sometimes with blotches of pink, red, white or blue, it may act d & # 39; a melanoma.
Diameter
If the stain is more than a quarter of an inch in diameter, which corresponds to the size of an eraser, it would be worth it to have it checked.
It should be noted, however, that melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
Evolving
You may have heard of it before, but if the size, shape or color of the skin changes, have it look.
(Image: Getty Images)
What is melanoma?
Melanoma is a tumor of melanin-forming cells, particularly a malignant tumor badociated with skin cancer.
They can appear anywhere on the body.
Signs and symptoms of melanoma
On the NHS website, they write: "The most common sign of melanoma is the appearance of a new mole or the change of an existing mole. This may occur n? anywhere on the body, but the most frequently affected areas are the back in men and the legs in women.
"Melanomas are rare in sun-protected areas, such as the bad and the scalp.
"In most cases, melanomas have an irregular shape and come in many colors.
"The mole can also be bigger than normal and can sometimes cause itching or bleeding, look for a mole whose shape, size and / or color change gradually."
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What are the survival rates for melanoma?
In England as a whole, one-year survival estimates were above 75% and five years above 50% for most types of cancer.
Exemptions concerned the lungs, esophagus, stomach and bladder in women and one-year-olds and five-year-old women.
In England, adults diagnosed at stage 1 with melanoma of skin, prostate or bad cancer (in women only) have the same chances of survival one year after diagnosis as an individual of the population in general.
Cutaneous melanoma had the highest survival rate at one year in men (97.4%) and women (98.6%) and at five years, both in men (89.2%) and women (93.9%).
(Image: AP)
What is the first sign on melanoma?
The first sign of melanoma is usually a new point on the skin or a change in size, shape or color of an existing mole.
What are the four main types of cutaneous melanoma?
According to Macmillan Cancer Assistance, there are four main types of cutaneous melanoma.
- Superficial melanoma is the most common type. It is found more often on the arms, legs, chest and back
- Nodular melanoma is the second most common type
- Lentigo maligna melanoma is less common
- Acral lentiginous melanoma is the rarest type
How serious is melanoma?
If melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is almost always curable, but if it is not, the cancer can progress and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes difficult to treat and can be fatal.
Although it is not the most common skin cancer, it causes the greatest number of deaths.
How can you prevent melanoma?
Melanoma is not always preventable, but you can reduce your risk of developing it by avoiding sunburn (even pink in the sun).
Most people are burned abroad on vacation or in the UK in the summer when they practice outdoor activities, such as gardening, sunbathing or cricket.
On these occasions, you must be very careful, especially if you have pale skin and lots of moles. You can protect yourself from the sun by using sunscreen and by appropriately cladding in the sun. Tanning beds and sunlamps should be avoided.
Regular monitoring of your skin can help establish early diagnosis and increase your chances of successful treatment.
Learn more about sun protection and sun safety.
You can learn more about skin cancer / melanoma on the NHS website here.
Note: it is only a guide. If you are not sure or worried about your condition, consult your general practitioner or call NHS Direct at 111.
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