Melanoma Monday: Skin Cancer Awareness

There has been an increase in melanoma skin cancer cases per year.

It’s estimated in 2021, there will be 200,000 cases diagnosed in the U.S.

Early detection allows for more treatment options to patients and when caught early it is 99 percent curable. Melanoma is less common than other types of skin cancer, but left untreated it is likely to grow and spread. Dr. Angela Wingfield said, “The rate of melanoma has sky rocketed up 44 percent. So when I was first in practice 20 years ago, I would see maybe a few in a month and now I see sometimes two or three in a day. So, it’s definitely more prevalent and people really need to be aware because it is very curable if you can catch it early.”

If you see any growth on your body visit a dermatologist for a professional exam.