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| Welcome to day 1 of Detect and Prevent Melanoma. Today and tomorrow, you’ll learn about the basics of melanoma, how to identify it on your skin, and the importance of early detection and skin protection. Ready to get started? |
| Melanoma is one of the most prevalent cancers in the United States |
| Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Of the three main types of skin cancer, melanoma comprises about 1% of diagnoses, with basal cell carcinoma at 80% and squamous cell carcinoma at 20%. But melanoma is responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths.
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| Anyone can develop one or more of the six types of melanoma, but people with less skin pigmentation have a higher risk. Other risk factors for melanoma include:
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having a first-degree relative (parents, children, siblings) who has had melanoma |
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previous melanoma diagnoses |
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a weakened immune system |
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| Melanoma is also one of the most common cancers in:
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people under the age of 30 years |
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| Early detection can save your life |
| Melanoma can cause death. But localized diagnoses — finding the cancer before it spreads beyond the area where it started — have nearly a 100% 5-year survival rate. |
| There are two ways to check your skin: self-exams at home and having a check by a medical professional. Both should be part of your prevention strategy. |
| According to research, self-exams may find 50% to 80% of melanoma skin cancers. |
| The Skin Cancer Foundation also recommends having a dermatologist perform a yearly full-body exam. Though some lesions can be difficult for even healthcare professionals to identify, their eyes are well-trained to catch what ours may miss. |
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| How to detect melanoma |
| Most moles will not develop into melanoma. But it’s still important to know your skin and recognize the signs of a potentially cancerous mole or mark. |
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