One in 50 Will Develop Malignant Melanoma: How to Check Yourself

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins as a dark spot or tumor on the skin. One in 50 Americans will be diagnosed with a melanoma in their life. If untreated, melanomas can spread and be fatal — close to 10,000 Americans are projected to die from this type of skin cancer 2015.  The good news is that they are relatively easy to detect and there is a high chance of eradication if treated early. The most common area for men to have a melanoma is on their back and chest. We recommend seeing a doctor for periodic skin exams as well as doing self-exams. Your dermatologist will assess your risk factors e.g. skin color (fair skin is a risk factor), family history of melanomas, eye color etc. Your total number of risk factors results in a recommended screening frequency.

Relevant Source

http://www.today.com/health/melanoma-monday-big-spot-people-miss-checking-skin-cancer-t19146