On World Cancer Day, Melanoma UK will continue to raise public awareness and urge people to go on the Melanoma Hunt in an attempt to find the melanomas missed during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The campaign responds to the findings of a global survey of over 700 dermatologists. The study showed that, compared to a normal year of performing patient skin examinations, an estimated one-third (33.6%) of appointments were missed – with a fifth (21%) of early-stage melanomas therefore going undiagnosed.

This campaign was originally launched during World Melanoma Skin Cancer Month in May as part of a global response to ensure that we can find the missing melanomas and save lives in collaboration with the Global Coalition for Melanoma Patient Advocacy. 

The human impact of Coronavirus clearly goes beyond the damage caused by the virus itself. National lockdowns and pressure on healthcare systems means other diseases, including potentially deadly melanoma, have gone undetected and untreated. So, with our National Melanoma Hunt, we’re fighting back and declaring ‘open season’ on melanoma.

At the centre of our campaign is a downloadable ‘Finder’s Guide’ which explains the warning signs of melanoma skin cancer and sets out a 7-step process for conducting a full-body skin exam.

This campaign can be a virus for good. We want people to share our ‘Finder’s Guide’ with at least six others they care about. We all know someone that spends too much time sunbathing, or uses tanning beds. Or maybe it’s a friend who’s a keen gardener or loves doing outdoor sports. It might be someone who works outside for a living –a construction or postal worker. Send the guide to them, and ask each of them to do the same with six others.

We want people to remember that the chances of beating melanoma are hugely increased if it is detected and treated early. So, there’s never been a better time to introduce a monthly skin self-exam into your routine.

Make it part of your new normal - it could be a 10-minute habit that saves your life. We have lots of tools to help you carry out a skin self-examination - Click here for further support

Lets #closethecaregap - For more information on why the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has launched a three-year campaign to create more equitable access to cancer services see below World Cancer Day 2022