Southport MP shows his support for skin cancer awareness campaign.

Damien Moore, MP for Southport, is supporting the charity, Melanoma Focus to raise awareness of melanoma skin cancer. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, accounting for 1% of all cancer deaths and killing 2,300 people in the UK per year.

Mr. Moore recently met with melanoma skin cancer specialists and patients with first-hand experience of melanoma to discuss the importance of symptom awareness and skin protection in reducing the growing number of melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK.

Melanoma Focus is a national charity dedicated to providing a comprehensive and authoritative source of information for public and professionals alike, as well as supporting education and promoting research about melanoma.

Melanoma skin cancer is becoming more common in the UK with around 16,700 new cases every year (46 every day). Since the early 1990s incidence rates have more than doubled and in males, they have almost tripled. It is expected to continue to rise.

1 in 36 men and 1 in 47 women in the UK will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in their lifetime. Yet 86% of melanomas are preventable.

Damien Moore, MP for Southport, said: 

“I find it very concerning that cases of this disease are rising across the UK, and so I am pleased to join MPs from across Parliament in encouraging people to take skin health seriously and protect themselves and their loved ones.

“I have been heartened talking to those working for the charity, Melanoma Focus, about the great work they do not only in Melanoma Awareness Month, but indeed across the year.

“Their fantastic work was well reflected in the words of the patients I met, and it is right that we look closely at what we can do to continue supporting those suffering from this terrible disease.”

Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus, then added:

“We are delighted that Mr. Moore shares our concerns about the rising melanoma skin cancer rates and is supporting Melanoma Awareness Month.

“Throughout the month of May, we will urge people to Be Smart About Skin Cancer by visiting their GP if they notice any unusual looking or changing moles and lesions and by wearing factor 30 (or higher) sunscreen from mid-March to mid-October.

“I’d like to thank Damien Moore for supporting our campaign.”