MSD South Africa

It is recommended for you to do regular self-exams of your own skin, preferably once a month.¹ A new spot or a spot that’s changing in size, shape or colour may be a warning sign of melanoma. If you have any of these changes, have your skin checked by a specialist.¹,² Dermatologists can carry out the required tests to look at a spot more clearly.¹ If you are diagnosed with a melanoma, the doctor will need to find out how far it has spread. It is important to find out the stage of your cancer to help decide what type of treatment is best for you.² Visit www.msd.co.za/melanoma/ or ask your healthcare practitioner for more information. hashtag #melanomaawarenessmonth

Despite surgery to remove melanoma, there is a risk of it coming back.¹,² A clinical study showed that recurrence rates within 3.1 years were 44, 45 and 74 %, respectively in patients with stage IIIA, IIIB or IIIC melanoma.²,³ Another study showed that recurrence rates within 4.3 years were 32 and 46 %, respectively in patients with stage IIB or IIC melanoma.¹ After the primary treatment (i.e. surgery) an additional treatment called adjuvant therapy can be used to rid the body of any cancer cells left behind.⁴ Visit www.msd.co.za/melanoma/ or ask your healthcare practitioner for more information. #melanomaawarenessmonth

There are different types of treatment available for people with melanoma. There are several factors that a doctor will use to decide on which one to use.¹ During treatment follow-up tests or check-ups will need to be carried out. Some of the tests that were done to diagnose or stage the cancer will be repeated to see how well the treatment is working. Decisions about whether to continue, change, or stop treatment may be based on the results of these tests.¹ Some of the tests will continue to be done from time to time after treatment has ended. The results of these tests can show if the condition has changed or if the cancer has recurred.¹ Visit www.msd.co.za/melanoma/ or ask your healthcare practitioner for more information. #melanomaawarenessmonth

It is recommended for you to do regular self-exams of your own skin, preferably once a month.¹ A new spot or a spot that’s changing in size, shape or colour may be a warning sign of melanoma. If you have any of these changes, have your skin checked by a specialist.¹,² Dermatologists can carry out the required tests to look at a spot more clearly.¹ If you are diagnosed with a melanoma, the doctor will need to find out how far it has spread. It is important to find out the stage of your cancer to help decide what type of treatment is best for you.² Visit www.msd.co.za/melanoma/ or ask your healthcare practitioner for more information. #melanomaawarenessmonth

Melanoma can spread to nearby tissues and other parts of the body and can be difficult to cure. It is both treatable and curable if the tumour is found before it spreads to the dermis (inner layer of skin).¹ Melanoma is less likely to cause death when it is found and treated early.¹ Most melanomas in the skin can be seen by the naked eye.¹ Follow the A B C D E rule as a good way to detect the signs of melanoma.² Visit www.msd.co.za/melanoma/ or ask your healthcare practitioner for more information. #melanomaawarenessmonth

A risk factor is anything that raises your risk of getting melanoma.¹ Although exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays is the major risk factor for most melanomas, there are several other risk factors that can make a person more likely to develop melanoma.¹ Some risk factors, like excess sun exposure, can be changed, whereas others like your age or family history, can’t be changed.¹ Visit www.msd.co.za/melanoma/ or ask your healthcare practitioner for more information. #melanomaawarenessmonth

The most important way to lower your risk of melanoma is to protect yourself from exposure to UV rays. Be bright, cover-up when you are outdoors.¹ Simply staying in the shade is one of the best ways to limit your UV exposure.¹ Protection from UV rays is important all year, not just during the summer. UV rays tend to be strongest from 10 am to 4 pm, it is therefore especially important to cover-up in the middle of the day.² Visit www.msd.co.za/melanoma/ or ask your healthcare practitioner for more information. #melanomaawarenessmonth

Melanoma is one of the most serious types of skin cancer because it spreads beyond the skin more often than many other skin cancers. When discovered early, it can be cured with appropriate treatment.¹ Melanomas occur when pigment cells that produce melanin (called melanocytes) grow out of control. The clearest link to the cause is exposure to UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds.¹ Visit www.msd.co.za/melanoma/ or ask your healthcare practitioner for more information. #melanomaawarenessmonth

No matter the colour of a persons skin, we are all at risk of melanoma.¹ Despite the fact that dark skin does not burn in the sun as easily as fair skin, being in the sun can damage your skin. Sunlight causes damage through UV rays, therefore even people who don’t burn are still at risk for melanoma.¹ Although there are fewer cases of melanoma in people with darker skin tones, they tend to have a higher incidence of advanced-stage melanoma which correlates with increased mortality.² Visit www.msd.co.za/melanoma/ or ask your healthcare practitioner for more information. #melanomaawarenessmonth