Welcome everyone to the start of Melanoma Skin Cancer Awareness Month!

Although we advocate for melanoma awareness all year long, May is 'our' month to really talk about real people, with real stories and how Melanoma UK offers real support.

Throughout this month, we will be sharing information about prevention, detection and risk factors. We encourage everyone to take the time to learn about skin health and how to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Together, we can reduce the incidence of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer and save lives. Let's make this awareness month count!

As a key member of the Global Melanoma Coalition, we are delighted to continue with the global message of the importance of skin checks.  The Global Melanoma Coalition is a network of melanoma patient advocacy groups, all dealing with the same problem all over the world.  We are all united together by a terrible disease and today we launch this years public awareness campaign to increase the number of people who conduct regular monthly skin self-examinations. This globally co-ordinated campaign is in direct response to data predicting a global increase in the number of melanoma cases and the mortality rate.

Data from the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer suggests the global total number of new melanoma cases will reach 413,100 per year by 2030. This is an increase of over 27% on the 324,635 cases registered a decade earlier in 2020. Melanoma mortality is predicted to reach 74,750 in 2030, a 31% increase on the 57,043 deaths in 2020.

With melanoma incidence rates rising around the world, it’s never been more important for people to check their skin regularly. 

For many of the patients we represent and support, their melanoma story started with a skin check. Our #becauseicheckedmyskin campaign encourages others to learn this essential 10-minute routine by celebrating the lives our warriors lead because they checked their skin, and in particular, the role they continue to play in their loved ones’ lives because of it. We hope this acts as inspiration for others to take up this simple protective habit.”

Melanoma can be seen, and because it can be seen, it can be dealt with early, which improves the chance of successful treatment. So, a monthly skin check really could be the most important habit you form this year, for yourself and for your loved ones.

Global Melanoma Coalition - The Global Melanoma Coalition (GMC) meets annually and is determined to make the deadliest skin cancer curable through its worldwide partnership.