[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/05\/melanoma-monday-screenings-save-lives\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/05\/melanoma-monday-screenings-save-lives\/","headline":"Melanoma Monday: Screenings Save Lives","name":"Melanoma Monday: Screenings Save Lives","description":"Updated: Melanoma can be treated very effectively if caught early. Learn more about melanoma, it's risk factors, and the benefits of melanoma screenings.","datePublished":"2014-05-01","dateModified":"2020-06-26","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/mole-inspection.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/mole-inspection.png","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/05\/melanoma-monday-screenings-save-lives\/","about":["Cancer Care"],"wordCount":413,"keywords":["American Academy of Dermatology","Melanoma","Melanoma Monday\u00c2\u00ae","radiation","Screenings","skin cancer","sunburns"],"articleBody":"This post was last updated on May 2, 2016 Melanoma is a modern epidemic.The number of reported melanoma cases and deaths have risen steadily in the United States over the past several generations. In fact, an estimated 72,250 new cases of the disease are diagnosed each year in the U.S.The good news? Treatment is improving for advanced stages of cancer. But early detection is still critical \u2014 melanoma is largely treatable in early stages, but much more likely than other skin cancers to spread throughout the body if not detected.Early-stage melanoma requires much less invasive treatment than later stages of the illness.\u00a0That\u2019s why the American Academy of Dermatology encourages the public to get tested for skin cancer on the first Monday in May \u2014 Melanoma Monday.\u00aeRisk Factors for MelanomaSkin color\u2013 Those with light-colored eyes and skin are at a higher risk than those with brown eyes and naturally darker skin.History of sunburns\u2013 This is a theme, particularly when the history of\u00a0sunburns\u00a0was during childhood and teenage years.Exposure to ultraviolet radiation\u2013 Especially recreational sunbathing and tanning bed exposure put the skin at higher risk.Moles\u2013 An increased number of moles, or the\u00a0presence of atypical or dysplastic moles, may be a warning sign of higher risk.Suppressed immune systems\u2013 Certain states of immunosuppression (e.g., what is required to for organ (renal) transplant patients and those with lymphoma (e.g. Hodgkin\u2019s disease) increase vulnerability to melanoma.History of melanoma\u2013 Personal or family history of melanoma increases your predisposition for developing melanoma.Melanoma therapy has improved both surgically and medically over the past decade. But early detection and removal is still the best option for preventing death and other serious complications. Early removal reduces melanoma mortality by nearly 50 percent, according to studies.Even if you don\u2019t have any known risk factors, it\u2019s important to get your skin screened. Here are some quick facts about melanoma screenings:Screening is painless and quick. It only takes a few minutes.Screening can be done by trained primary care physicians or allied health professionals, as well as by dermatologists and medical or surgical oncologists.Screening should be part of annual physical examinations with your physician, as well as a monthly exercise that you do yourself at home.Is Your Mole Melanoma?Use our guide to melanoma self-screening to determine if your mole is suspicious. See a dermatologist as soon as possible if you believe your mole could be melanoma."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2014","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"05","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/\/05\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Melanoma Monday: Screenings Save Lives","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/05\/melanoma-monday-screenings-save-lives\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]