The Member of Parliament for the Ribble Valley, Nigel Evans is supporting the charity, Melanoma Focus and their campaign to raise awareness of melanoma skin cancer. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, accounting for 1% of all cancer deaths and killing 2,300 people in the UK per year.
Nigel met with melanoma skin cancer specialists and patients with first-hand experience of melanoma to discuss the importance of symptom awareness and skin protection in reducing the growing number of melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK.
Melanoma Focus is a national charity dedicated to providing a comprehensive and authoritative source of information for public and professionals alike, as well as supporting education and promoting research about melanoma.
Melanoma skin cancer is becoming more common in the UK with around 16,700 new cases every year (46 every day). Since the early 1990s incidence rates have more than doubled and in males, they have almost tripled. It is expected to continue to rise.
1 in 36 men and 1 in 47 women in the UK will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in their lifetime. Yet 86% of melanomas are preventable.
Nigel said of the event:
“I am pleased to be able to play my part in raising awareness of this issue. It is essential that more people are aware of the importance of wearing at least factor 30 sun cream and keeping a good look out for unusual new skin features.
“It is exactly through events like this that we can help to spread the message about fighting melanoma and I am grateful that Melanoma Focus are there to ensure this campaign grows.”
Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus, added:
“We are delighted that Nigel shares our concerns about the rising melanoma skin cancer rates and is supporting Melanoma Awareness Month.
“Throughout the month of May, we will urge people to Be Smart About Skin Cancer by visiting their GP if they notice any unusual looking or changing moles and lesions and by wearing factor 30 (or higher) sunscreen from mid-March to mid-October.
“I’d like to thank Nigel for supporting our campaign.”