Melanoma skin cancer
What is melanoma?
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that starts in cells called melanocytes.1
Quick Links
The five stages of melanoma1,2
Prevalence of melanoma
Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in the UK with around 16,700 people diagnosed each year (2016 – 2018).3 In the last decade, melanoma incidence has risen by around a third (32%)(2016 – 2018)3, with more than 1 in 4 skin cancer cases diagnosed in people under 50.4
Signs and symptoms of melanoma
Up to 86% of melanoma cases are preventable,3 yet 33% of people never check their moles for changes.5 People should regularly check themselves for existing moles that might change shape, colour or size, or the appearance of new moles, as all of these could be a sign of melanoma.6
The ABCDE checklist can be used as a simple guide to monitoring changes in moles.
The ABCDE checklist6
Treatment options for melanoma
For patients with melanoma, survival rates vary greatly depending on the stage of disease.7 Following diagnosis, options may include one or more of the following approaches:8
Surgery
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Targeted therapy
Immunotherapy
References
1 Cancer Research UK. What is melanoma? Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/melanoma/about
Last accessed: October 2023
2 Cancer Research UK. Melanoma. Stages and types. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/melanoma/stages-types
Last Accessed: October 2023
3 Cancer Research UK. Melanoma cancer statistics. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/melanoma-skin-cancer#heading-Zero
Last accessed: October 2023
4 NHS. Conditions – Skin cancer overview. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/melanoma-skin-cancer
Last accessed: October 2023
5 Bristol Myers Squibb. Melanoma Awareness Matters. Available at: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/974784639/.
Last Accessed: October 2023
6 Cancer Research UK. Symptoms. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/melanoma/symptoms
Last accessed: October 2023
7 Cancer Research UK. Melanoma five-year net survival by stage. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/melanoma-skin-cancer/survival#heading-Three
Last accessed: October 2023
8 Cancer Research UK. Melanoma skin cancer treatment. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/melanoma/treatment
Last accessed: October 2023
October 2023 | HE-GB-2200210