25/05/2026
May is Melanoma Awareness month and we should all be aware of the effects the sun and sun beds can have on our skin
With the sun making a very big appearance at the moment make sure you wear your SPF people, you are not harder than the Sun!
People don’t necessarily realise how serious skin cancer can be till it happens to them but it shouldn’t be forgotten that the skin is the largest organ of the body, so yes it does have an effect, physically and mentally too. It’s not just a case of ‘it’s only skin cancer’
So get to know your skin, notice any changes and get it checked out. I’m glad I did!
In 2018 I got the shock of my life when I was diagnosed with a Malignant Nodular Melanoma but thankfully it was caught early and after surgery in 2 parts of my leg and also the groin I was classed as NED (no evidence of disease) With a high risk of recurrence I also had 6 years of follow up appts and remain vigilant to the sun and any changes to the skin, so yes It is something that stays on my mind but that’s the whole point of awareness isn’t it…
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, with rates continuing to rise over recent years.
Regularly checking your skin for any changes or abnormalities is crucial for early detection of skin cancer. This includes looking for new moles, changes in size, shape, or color of existing moles, and any unusual spots or lesions.
The “ABCDE” rule is a helpful guide for checking skin lesions: A for asymmetry, B for irregular borders, C for changes in color, D for diameter (larger than a pencil eraser), and E for evolving (changes in size, shape, or color over time).
Early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment for skin cancer.