NHS 'check your skin' warning over condition that kills thousands each year

The NHS has issued a warning as Skin Cancer Awareness Month begins, urging Brits to check their skin for signs of melanoma. An NHS spokesperson said in a social media post: "This #SkinCancerAwarenessMonth, check your skin and contact your GP if you're worried about any signs that could be cancer. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other areas of the body." Health experts recommend using the ABCDE checklist to spot warning signs. This includes checking for asymmetry, border irregularity, colour changes, diameter and evolving moles. Melanomas may have halves that are different shapes or sizes (asymmetrical), and are more likely to have irregular edges (border) that are blurry or jagged. Melanomas are also often an uneven colour and contain more than one shade. Most melanomas are more than 6mm wide and might change (or evolve) in size, shape or colour. Melanoma is considered one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer because it can spread quickly if left untreated. Symptoms can include itching, bleeding or crusting of a mole, which should not be ignored. Cancer Research UK data shows melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK with around 16,700 new cases annually. Rates have more than doubled since the early 1990s, with around 2,300 people dying from melanoma each year. The main cause is exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or sunbeds, with repeated sunburn in childhood significantly increasing risk. Around 86 per cent of melanoma cases are preventable through simple precautions like wearing SPF and seeking shade. Health experts stress that early detection is crucial, with around 90 per cent surviving 10 years or more if caught early. READ THE FULL STORY: NHS issues urgent 'check your skin' warning for illness that kills thousands