Did you know that Bob Marley died of Melanoma at age 36? Did you know that May is Melanoma awarness month? Do you know that one american dies from Melanoma every hour?
Melanoma is a common but serious skin cancer which, if not removed early while it is thin, spreads internally and is usually fatal. It is often ignored until too late because, in the early stages, it may look harmless and cause no discomfort. Many people don’t realize that something small on their skin can kill them if not treated promptly.
Although it is uncommon in children under 12, melanoma occurs in every age group after puberty. It is the most common cancer in the 25 to 29 age group and second most common in the 15 to 29 age group. Women under age 39 are more likely to develop melanoma than any other cancer except breast cancer. Overall, melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in males and sixth in females. The U.S. incidence of melanoma is more than double that of new HIV infections and is increasing at an epidemic rate; 114,900 new cases are predicted in 2010. Most new melanoma patients have no family history of the disease; it can strike anyone regardless of health, physical condition, or skin complexion. On the average, there is a melanoma death in the U.S. almost every hour.
The good news is that melanoma is easy to detect yourself at an early stage while it is thin and is curable by simple, painless removal in an office setting. All it takes is a ten minute monthly skin check. This site shows you how to check your skin, what to look for, and how to decrease your risk of melanoma. Please check this site for more info, be aware! www.skincheck.org