I recently met representatives from Melanoma Focus to discuss Melanoma Awareness Month.
Back in 2018 I noticed a blemish on my left arm and so, knowing that both my parents had had skin cancer, I decided to get myself checked out.
After a biopsy, my melanoma was confirmed, and I underwent surgery and treatment to have the cancer removed.
I was one of the lucky ones - the melanoma hadn’t spread, I wasn’t ill, and I was discharged from the specialist in 2020 free from the disease.
Whilst all I am left with now is a rather impressive ‘shark bite’ scar, the outcome could have been so very different had I not been aware of what signs to look out for and caught the cancer early.
More people die of melanoma per year in the UK than in Australia, yet 86% of cases are preventable. There are now more than 16,700 new cases each year in the UK.
For #MelanomaAwarenessMonth, I'm urging people to #KnowYourSkin. Cases of melanoma skin cancer are rising, but taking simple steps can reduce your risk. These include protecting yourself with SPF30+ suncream, check your skin and contact your GP if you notice new or changing moles or lesions.
