about the MelaTools Programme

Almost all skin cancers are caused by melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), and basal cell carcinomas (BCCs – sometimes called rodent ulcers).
Melanoma is the most serious and aggressive skin cancer, but SCCs and (to a lesser extent) BCCs also have a significant impact and can be fatal.
The incidence of all skin cancers are rising in many populations. Melanoma incidence has quadrupled over the last 30 years in Caucasian populations.
To improve survival it is vital to detect all cancers, including skin cancers, early. A patient diagnosed with stage 1 melanoma (the earliest stage) has almost a 100% chance of surviving for 1 year. Whereas a patient diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma (the latest stage) has only a 53% chance of surviving for 1 year (using American Joint Cancer Committee Stages).
Compared to all other cancers, melanoma patients have the second longest time between first noticing a symptom and presenting it to their GP.
It is challenging for both patients and GPs to recognise the changes in a mole or skin lesion which suggest that a skin cancer is developing.