Melanoma Monday: Know the Melanoma ABCs (Infographic)

The American Academy of Dermatology recognizes the first Monday in May as Melanoma Monday to raise awareness about this potentially deadly type of skin cancer. In 2019, more than 96,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the United States, and about 7,230 people are expected to die from it, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). While melanoma is less common than other types of skin cancer, rates of melanoma have been rising over the last 30 years, the ACS notes.

“Melanoma is highly treatable when it’s detected early,” said  Ramon Jimenez, M.D., chief of melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma surgery at Miami Cancer Institute. “Thanks to a lot of public education and advances in the ways we can test for and diagnose different forms of skin cancers, there are many treatment options for patients with melanoma, including several types of surgery, medication therapy and immunotherapy.”

A  person’s chance of being diagnosed with melanoma increases with age. However, melanoma is one of the most common cancers found in young adults, especially women between the ages of 25 and 30. Having sun-damaged skin, certain types of moles, a family history of melanoma and being white with light-colored skin or freckles are some of the factors that increase a person’s risk of melanoma.

This infographic provides tips for identifying the first signs of melanoma and how to protect skin from harmful effects of sun exposure, which is the most preventable risk factor for developing skin cancer.

Infographic by Irina de Souza