Melanoma News
We bring you the most current announcements, campaign launches and global initiatives from the world of melanoma. From breakthrough policy changes to community-driven awareness events, we cover all the headlines.
All the latest news from Melanoma UK, including latest breakthroughs, support, fundraising events and news at Melanoma UK
Patient Stories
Behind every statistic is a person, a family, a journey. Our Patient Stories bring those journeys to life. Real voices, raw honesty and inspiring resilience — from diagnosis to recovery, from treatment navigation to advocacy, we shine a spotlight on lived experience. Because together we can transform personal stories into collective hope. Our patient stories bring you first hand experience of people dealing with melanoma and make them accessible to other people.
Reports, Science & Research
Our Reports section delivers in-depth, evidence-based insights into melanoma research and care. Covering national incidence trends, genomic profiling, treatment advances and survivorship outcomes, we turn complex clinical trials, laboratory research and emerging technologies into clear, accessible summaries. At the heart of Melanoma UK is a strong commitment to science, ensuring the latest evidence—from biomarker studies, immunotherapy advances and long-term outcome data.
We are on Instagram #melanomauk_official
One of the things I love about sailing is that it brings together teamwork, trust, reading the conditions and working towards a shared destination.
Everyone has a part to play, and sometimes the best progress comes from adjusting your course together.
My first week has been all about listening, connecting and building relationships.
I`ve loved getting to know our wonderful team, connecting with Melanoma Focus, Melanoma Fund and Skcin – The Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity, and hearing from so many people who have taken the time to welcome me.
I’ve been inspired by the passion and commitment across the melanoma community, and the shared determination to make a difference.
What is really exciting to me is the potential of what we can achieve together: building on the work already happening, strengthening partnerships, preventing melanoma, improving early detection and ensuring people affected by melanoma and their loved ones get the support they need.
Ultimately, it’s about working together to prevent melanoma and save lives.
Thank you for such a warm welcome. I`m excited about the journey ahead and the difference we can make for people affected by melanoma. 🧡
- Rachel
#MelanomaUK #MelanomaAwareness #SkinCancerPrevention #EarlyDetection #WorkingTogether
Every melanoma patient deserves to be heard.
Last week, Tracey and Colin proudly represented Melanoma UK at the Cancer52 Conference, joining fellow cancer charities and advocates committed to improving the lives of people affected by rare and less common cancers.
At Melanoma UK, we know that melanoma is more than just skin cancer. It can be a life-changing diagnosis, and for those living with advanced melanoma, rare melanoma subtypes or facing challenges accessing treatment and support, having their voices heard is vital.
That`s why being part of conversations like these matters so much to us.
Cancer52 unites over 100 cancer charities, working together to ensure that rare and less common cancers receive the recognition, attention and support they deserve.
For Melanoma UK, the conference was an important opportunity to champion the needs of melanoma patients, strengthen relationships across the cancer community and contribute to discussions about improving care, access to treatment and patient outcomes.
Our message is simple: no melanoma patient should feel forgotten, overlooked or unheard.
A huge thank you to Cancer52 for bringing organisations together and recognising the power of a united patient voice.
Together, we can drive meaningful change for everyone affected by melanoma.
🧡
#MelanomaUK #Cancer52 #MelanomaAwareness #PatientAdvocacy #StrongerTogether
We`re delighted to welcome Rachel Wallace as the new Chief Executive Officer of Melanoma UK. 🧡
Rachel brings extensive senior leadership experience across the NHS, BBC, local government and charity sector, with a strong track record in building relationships, leading change and bringing people and organisations together to make a positive difference.
Rachel said: "I`m delighted to be joining Melanoma UK. There are so many dedicated people and organisations doing important work in this area, and I`m really looking forward to listening, learning and building on existing partnerships, as well as developing new relationships.
By working together, we can raise awareness, improve prevention and early diagnosis, and make a real difference to people affected by melanoma."
Rachel succeeds Tracy Paine MBE, who has led Melanoma UK over the past two years, strengthening the charity and building important relationships.
We`re hugely grateful to Tracy for her leadership and dedication.
Please join us in welcoming Rachel as we look ahead to the next chapter for Melanoma UK, working alongside our partners, supporters and the wider melanoma community.
#MelanomaAwareness #MelanomaUK #WorkingTogether
We`re funding groundbreaking research to improve immunotherapy outcomes 🧡👇🏻
This Wednesday, Colin (our C.O.O.) visited King’s College London Labs at Guy’s Hospital to present our grant certificate to Professor Sophia Karagiannis.
Colin said “It was a privilege to see first hand the ground-breaking work being carried out by her team.”
Many people will have heard about T cells and their role in the adaptive immune system. It was fascinating to learn more about B cells - how they develop, interact with other cells within the tumour environment, and may influence responses to immunotherapy.
Thanks to our donors and fundraisers, Melanoma UK’s grant at King’s is supporting further research through the project “Decoding B Cell Signatures to Improve Immunotherapy Outcomes in Melanoma”.
We look forward to sharing more updates on this with you all as things develop.
Thanks to Sophia and all the amazing team at King’s College London @lifeatkings for their presentations and hosting.
To learn more about KCL’s fascinating study to map the development and behaviour of B Cells visit our website (link in bio).
Or if you would like to contribute to our mission, find and hit our donate / fundraise button 🧡
#ImmunotherapyResearch #MelanomaUK #MelanomaCommunity #ImprovingOutcomes
🔬 New research led by King`s College London is helping scientists understand why.
Researchers mapped how B cells behave inside melanoma tumours, including how they develop and interact with other immune cells before and after immunotherapy.
They identified a previously unrecognised “inflamed” or activated B cell state and found differences in B cell populations between people who responded to immunotherapy and those who didn’t.
Why does this matter?
There are currently no reliable biomarkers that can predict who is most likely to respond to immunotherapy.
The researchers hope these findings could contribute to future biomarkers that help predict treatment response and support more personalised treatment decisions.
This is early research, and larger studies are needed to confirm the findings. But it offers another important insight into how melanoma and the immune system interact.
Research like this could help us move towards a future where melanoma treatment is increasingly personalised to the individual. 🧡
🔗 Read the full article via the link in our Stories.
@lifeatkings
#Melanoma #MelanomaResearch #Immunotherapy #CancerResearch #SkinCancer MelanomaUK
"I couldn’t curl up in a ball and let it defeat me.”
That determination is at the heart of Luke’s story.
When life dealt Luke Rogers a second cancer diagnosis before the age of 38, he could have been forgiven for feeling completely crushed.
But instead, Luke decided to keep moving forward.
After battling melanoma while his wife was pregnant, Luke was diagnosed with kidney cancer - something he says came “completely out of the blue”.
While recovering from surgery in hospital over Christmas, he decided that 2026 would be a year of challenges.
And he set himself a huge one: become a qualified diver and swim with great white sharks in Australia. 🦈
Luke will travel to the Neptune Islands in South Australia for a four-day expedition, taking on months of training, exams and theory before getting into the cage with one of the ocean’s most iconic predators.
But this challenge is about much more than ticking something off a bucket list.
Luke is aiming to raise £20,000 for four cancer charities - @macmillancancer @cr_uk @kidneycanceruk and @melanomauk turning an incredibly difficult chapter in his life into something that could help others facing their own battles.
We`ve shared his fundraising page in our Stories.
Sometimes moving forward means setting yourself something to focus on, something that gives you purpose, and something that reminds you there is still plenty of life to live.
Good luck from all of us, Luke. 🦈 🧡
A huge thank you to Sarah Julian @bbcwm @bbcnews and @bbcsounds for helping us to raise awareness of Luke’s story and challenge.
#LukesSharkChallenge #SwimmingWithSharks #Fundraising #MelanomaUK
A huge thank you and an enormous well done to Julie Worboys, who yesterday took on an incredible 24 hour physical challenge alongside the community at @valkyrie.hq in memory of her sister, Marie. 🧡
Marie sadly died from melanoma on 11 March 2026, aged just 38.
Julie took on this challenge not only to honour her much loved baby sister, but to raise vital awareness of melanoma and help ensure more people understand just how serious this disease can be.
In Julie`s words:
"Marie was only diagnosed in late December 2025. By the time she received that diagnosis, the cancer had already spread throughout her body - to her liver, her lungs, and her brain. We went from learning she was sick to losing her in just eleven weeks.
She fought so hard. She underwent immunotherapy treatment, and the day before she passed away, we received the most incredible news. It was working. So much of the cancer had gone. We went to bed that night full of hope.
That same evening, Marie suffered a bleed on the brain. It was inoperable. And devastatingly, she was gone.
Marie’s story shows just how quickly and silently this disease can take hold. I want to do everything I can to make sure no other family has to face what ours has.
My world is changed forever now that she is no longer in it, and this is the least I can do. To keep moving, keep going, and carry her with me every single mile.
Every pound raised matters, and every step I take, I take for Marie.”
Julie, what an incredible way to honour your sister. We are so grateful to you and everyone at Valkyrie HQ who supported you through those 24 hours.
Thank you for helping to raise awareness of melanoma and for raising vital funds in Marie’s memory.
Today Saturday 26th September, Valkyrie HQ is opening its doors to gym members, friends, family and the wider community for a full day of fundraising, with a cake sale, raffle, tombola, fitness challenges, food, music and more.
If you’re able to support Julie’s fundraising, every donation, no matter the amount, makes a difference.
You can find the link in our Stories 🧡
#MilesForMarie #MelanomaUK #FundraisingEvent
UV awareness is an all-year-round habit. ☀️
The temperatures might be dropping and the jumpers might be coming back out, but UV awareness shouldn’t be packed away with the summer clothes.
UV levels can still be high at different times of the year, and it doesn’t necessarily have to feel hot or even be a completely clear, sunny day for UV exposure to matter.
That’s why it’s worth getting into the habit of checking the UV index, rather than judging the risk by the temperature outside.
🧡 Check the UV forecast before spending longer periods outdoors
🧡 Take extra care when UV levels are moderate or above
🧡 Use sunscreen and cover up when protection is needed
🧡 Remember to protect your eyes too
Skin protection isn’t just something to think about on holidays or during a heatwave.
You can check the UV forecast and find more advice from the Met Office. (Link in Stories)
#MelanomaUK #UVAwareness #SunSafety #SkinCancerAwareness #ProtectYourSkin
📢 An important update for cancer care in England.
The Government has launched a reformed National Cancer Board, which will monitor progress against the National Cancer Plan and its commitments to improving cancer care.
The Board met for the first time yesterday on 21st September and will meet every three months, looking at progress across areas including:
🔸 Earlier diagnosis
🔸 Access to treatment
🔸 Quality of life
🔸 Reducing inequalities in cancer care
🔸 Support for people affected by rare and less common cancers
The National Cancer Plan has set an ambition for three in four people diagnosed with cancer to survive for five years or more by 2035.
For the melanoma community, we`ll be following the Board`s progress closely - particularly the work being done around earlier diagnosis, improving outcomes and ensuring people can access the care they need.
We welcome continued focus and accountability as these commitments move from plans on paper to changes that make a real difference to people affected by cancer. 🧡
👉 Read the full update from the Department of Health and Social Care on our website.
#NationalCancerBoard #EarlyDiagnosisSavesLives #MelanomaCommunity #MelanomaUK
A huge well done to the wonderful Ella O’Donnell! 🧡👏
Last Saturday, Ella took on the Mini Great North Run to raise money for Melanoma UK in memory of her great uncle.
And she didn’t just reach her fundraising target… she’s raised more than double! 🎉
We’d like to say a massive thank you to Ella, her mum Louise, and everyone who has supported and sponsored her.
Ella said: "I wanted to run the Mini Great North Run for my great uncle Alastair because I love him and miss him."
Lindsay Brough, Operations Officer for Melanoma UK, thanked Ella: “Ella is a wonderful inspiration, showing that you’re never too young to make a difference."
"We’re incredibly grateful to her for choosing to support Melanoma UK in memory of her great uncle. We hope her achievement inspires other young people to get involved too.”
Every pound raised helps us continue supporting people affected by melanoma and raising vital awareness.
What an incredible achievement, Ella, we hope you’re very proud of yourself.
We certainly are! 🧡
If you’d like to support Ella’s fantastic effort, you can find her fundraising page on our Stories today.
#MiniGreatNorthRun #Fundraisers #MelanomaUK
Maybe it’s a new mole. Maybe one you’ve had for years suddenly looks different. Or perhaps you’ve noticed a patch of skin that’s changed, become itchy, started bleeding or simply doesn’t look quite right.
It’s completely understandable to feel worried, but the important thing?
Don’t ignore a change because you’re worried about what it might mean.
Melanoma can begin as a new mole or a change to an existing one, and spotting melanoma early can make it easier to treat.
Get familiar with your skin, check it regularly and remember your ABCDEs:
🧡 Asymmetry
🧡 Border
🧡 Colour
🧡 Diameter
🧡 Evolution
Take 5 minutes today to check your skin.
If something is new, changing or unusual for you, get it checked by your GP.
#Melanoma #SkinCancerAwareness #MelanomaUK
You’ve spotted something different. What happens next?
A new mole, a change in an existing mole or an unusual area of skin is worth paying attention to.
Melanoma UK recommends getting to know what is normal for your skin and looking for changes in size, shape, colour or texture, as well as symptoms such as itching, bleeding or crusting.
If something concerns you, the next step is to speak to your GP.
At your appointment, your GP may:
🔎 Ask about the change, your symptoms and relevant medical or family history
👩⚕️ Examine the mole or affected area
📷 Take a photograph to send to a dermatologist for assessment
🏥 Refer you urgently for further tests or to see a specialist if they think the change could be cancer
And an urgent referral does not mean that you have something nefarious. It means the area needs further assessment.
Finding melanoma early can make it easier to treat, so if something has changed, don’t put off getting it checked.
For guidance on checking your skin and the ABCDE signs of melanoma, visit our website.
#CheckYourSkin #MelanomaAwareness #SkinCheck #EarlyDetection #SkinHealth #MelanomaUK