We will be 'On The Spot' with Professor Christian Aldridge on Friday 18th February at 7pm discussing Acral and Sublingual Melanoma.

Acral Melanoma is a specific type of melanoma that appears on the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, or under the nails.  Though relatively uncommon in the general population, Acral Melanoma is the most common type of melanoma in people of colour however, it can appear on all skin types.

Because of the misconceptions that melanomas only occur in sun-exposed areas and that people of colour are not at risk for melanoma, these melanomas can be discovered later than other types, after they have invaded deeper layers of skin or metastasized.

Never ignore your hands and feet when it comes to melanoma. If you have black lines on your finger or toe nails, don't just cover it up!

Biography - Professor Christian Aldridge

Professor Aldridge is the Chair of the All Wales National Specialist Advisory Group for Skin Cancer. He has previously been the Skin Cancer MDT Lead at Cwm Taf NHS Trust for a 4-year tenure and currently operates the Rapid-Access Skin Cancer Clinic at Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, which incorporates a same-day operating list which excises those skin cancers identified in clinic without delay.

Professor Aldridge is a graduate of the University of Cardiff, School of Medicine where he obtained a BSc Hons in Physiology and graduated from Medical school in 1998. He specialised in Dermatology and has developed a sub-speciality interest in Skin Cancer; in particular, the management of Melanoma. He is a member of the British Association of Dermatologists, the British Society of Dermatological Surgery and the American Academy of Dermatology.

Professor Aldridge has had research published in respected peer-reviewed journals and his ongoing clinical activities involve the development of a Teledermatology service, which aids triaging of suspect lesions from GPs via photo/email service. There are also close links with allied colleagues in oncology and plastic surgery in order to provide an exemplary service for the total treatment of Melanoma, for patients within his Trust.

Equally important to Professor Aldridge is the need to raise awareness of Skin Cancer as timely intervention makes a huge difference. This is undertaken using different approaches for e.g from talks and meetings to local GPs and allows Melanoma UK to share his work and findings using social networking sites for e.g Twitter, to propagate the salient points and to keep the public abreast of recent developments.

Professor Aldridge became a medical advisor to Melanoma UK in November 2013.

To register for this webinar click the link below.

'ON THE SPOT' WITH PROFESSOR CHRISTIAN ALDRIDGE