MELANOMA FACTS & STATS

Melanoma diagnoses are increasing at epidemic rates. You can help make a difference by knowing and sharing the facts about melanoma.

• Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer
• Melanoma skin cancer is the 5th most common cancer in the UK
• According to the World Health Organisation approximately 3,119 people are expected to die from melanoma in 2025 in UK.
• In 2025, it is projected that 19,513 people in the UK are expected to be diagnosed with melanoma.
• Melanoma is not just a skin cancer. It can develop anywhere on the body – eyes, scalp, nails, feet, mouth, etc.
• Melanoma does not discriminate by age, race, or gender. Everyone is at risk.
• 49% of melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK are in females, and 51% are in males.
• In women, the most common place for melanoma to develop is on the legs
• In men, melanoma is most commonly found on the chest and back
• Melanoma is a type of cancer that starts in cells in the skin called melanocytes.
• The most common sign of melanoma is the appearance of a new mole or a change in an existing mole
• There are two main types of UV rays that damage our skin, both of which can cause skin cancer:
  • UVB causes most sunburns
  • UVA ages the skin, however contributes less towards sunburn
• People with fair skin, red or fair hair and freckles are more sensitive to the sun.
• The link between exposure to the sun and skin cancer wasn't discovered until 1956
• Nearly 90% of melanomas are thought to be caused by exposure to UV light and sunlight.
• It takes only one blistering sunburn, especially at a young age, to more than double a person’s chance of developing melanoma later in life.
• Exposure to tanning beds before age 30 increases a person’s risk of developing melanoma by 75%.
• Indoor tanning beds are proven to cause cancer and have been classified into the highest cancer risk category by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC).
• Young people who regularly use tanning beds are 8 times more likely to develop melanoma than people who have never used them.
• These tips can help protect your skin from too much UV exposure:
  • Seek shade when possible
  • Cover up with clothing, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
  • Try to avoid being in the sun between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF of at least 30 and reapply every two hours