Fast Facts on Melanoma

• Melanoma is the rarest, but the most dangerous, form of three common types of skin cancer.
• Melanoma accounts for just 2% of skin cancer cases but almost 10,000 of the >13,000 skin cancer deaths each year (American Cancer Society).
• Numerous risk factors have been identified for melanoma, and the incidence appears to be increasing for people under the age of 40, especially in women.
• Repeated overexposure to the sun is the major avoidable risk factor for melanoma – not getting sunburnt is the best prevention against skin cancer.
• Diagnosis of skin cancer is made initially by the appearance of the skin, and confirmed by biopsy sample.
• Self-monitoring of moles and other markings on the skin helps with early detection of skin cancer.
• Treatment usually aims to completely remove skin cancer tumors, and is curative if done at the cancer’s earliest stage

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