The most serious form of skin cancer is rising in the UK with experts predicting the highest rates on record this year. Cases of malignant melanoma are forecast to increase from an average 19,300 a year between 2020-2022, to 21,300 cases, says Cancer Research UK. Even getting sunburnt once every couple of years can triple your risk, and the charity warns that how much sunscreen we use, and how much we cover up, are likely to be linked to where melanoma develops.
Two in five melanomas in men are found on the chest, back and abdomen, while more than a third in women are found on the legs. But faces, arms and even the soles of our feet can be vulnerable. Sensible application of sunblock, hats and long sleeves can protect us. But as climate change sees hotter weather become more common, we all need to be aware of protecting our skin.
Which is why I decided to try out Boots’ mole-scanning service after becoming concerned about marks I believed to be sun damage on my face. I’ve always been quite moley but I’ve noticed a brown patch on my cheek. It was barely noticeable at first but, on work Zoom calls recently, I’ve found it catching my eye under the glare of the high-definition camera. So when I read about rising rates of skin cancer, it seemed worth getting advice.
Boots launched its mole-checking service, in partnership with ScreenCancer, a few years ago but has seen an uptick in appointments. It also recently launched pharmacist training for checking common skin conditions.
With many GPs working flat out and appointments hard to book, the £40-a-mole service could be a life-saver. I popped into Boots in central London, where store pharmacist Whitney Lodovica, 27, explained she would take some HD images to be analysed by the experts at ScreenCancer.