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.
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Self-care can be a quiet evening.
A walk.
An early night.
But sometimes, self-care is five minutes, a mirror and paying attention.
Self-care is not only what helps you feel better today. It is also what helps you notice change early.
This International Self-Care Day, make a small promise to your future self:
- Look at your skin regularly
- Learn what is normal for you
- Notice anything new, changing or unusual
- Contact your GP if something concerns you
Your skin does not need to look “perfect”. You simply need to know what is normal for you.
Today is the 24th, so make the 24th of every month your skin-check day.
Set a recurring reminder now:
Five minutes for my skin.
A small habit. A practical act of self-care.
#InternationalSelfCareDay #KnowYourSkin #SkinCheck #MelanomaAwareness #MelanomaUK
MYTH Busted: A base tan is not armour. It is evidence that UV has already affected your skin.
Whether it comes from the sun or a sunbed, a base tan offers very little protection and will not stop you from getting sunburnt.
A tan is your skin responding to UV damage. It does not make further exposure safe or protect you from the damage that can build up over time.
Heading on holiday?
Skip the pre-holiday sunbed. Protect your skin from the first day of your trip with shade, clothing and regularly applied sunscreen.
#MelanomaUK #SunbedAwareness #SunSafety #UVSafety #SkinCancerPrevention #ProtectYourSkin
Tom Stanton has done something very special in memory of his uncle, Kevin Brown. 🧡
Kevin sadly passed away from melanoma on Christmas Eve last year. After seeing how quickly his health deteriorated, Tom decided to cut off the long hair he had grown for more than seven years to raise funds for Melanoma UK.
And Tom’s hair will continue to make a difference. He is donating it to the Little Princess Trust, which provides real-hair wigs to children and young people who have lost their hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.
Tom, thank you for choosing to honour Kevin’s memory in such a meaningful way and for supporting Melanoma UK.
Please support Tom’s fundraiser or share his story to help it reach more people:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/mr-stanton
#MelanomaUK #FundraiserSpotlight #InMemoryOfKevin #CommunityFundraising #MelanomaAwareness
One sporting weekend. Two reasons to plan for UV. 🎾⚽
With the Wimbledon finals taking place across Saturday and Sunday, and England facing Norway in the World Cup quarter-final at 10pm on Saturday, many of us will be spending time outside before settling in to watch the action.
Whether you are watching the tennis in the garden, meeting friends at an outdoor screening or starting your match-day plans early, remember that several hours outside can add up to significant UV exposure.
Your weekend UV checklist:
✓ Check the UV index before leaving home.
✓ Use clothing and shade as your first lines of protection.
✓ Choose sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and four-star UVA protection.
✓ Apply sunscreen generously to all exposed skin.
✓ Reapply regularly, especially after sweating.
✓ Do not forget your ears, scalp, neck and hands.
England may not kick off until the evening, but your daytime plans still count.
Save this checklist before the weekend and send it to your match-day group.
#MelanomaUK #SunSafety #UVSafety #Wimbledon2026 #WorldCup2026 #EnglandFootball
Today is World Skin Health Day.
This year’s theme is “Better Knowledge for Better Skin Health”, and with another UK heatwave underway, there is one important fact worth sharing:
You cannot judge UV strength by how hot it feels.
UV radiation cannot be felt, and skin damage can happen even when the temperature feels comfortable or there is some cloud cover.
When the UV Index is 3 or above:
• Seek shade, particularly between 11am and 3pm
• Cover your skin and wear a wide-brimmed hat
• Use at least SPF30 with four or five-star UVA protection
• Reapply sunscreen regularly
• Get to know your skin and check it for changes
Better knowledge helps us make better choices for our skin, today and throughout the year.
Have you checked the UV Index where you are today?
#WorldSkinHealthDay #BetterSkinHealth #UVAwarenessMonth #UVSafety #SunSafety #SkinHealth #MelanomaAwareness #MelanomaUK
3–2 and England are through to the World Cup quarter-finals!
Following last night’s dramatic World Cup victory over Mexico, we’re borrowing the scoreline for a different kind of winning game plan.
When you’re watching the football, celebrating outdoors or enjoying the summer weather, make sure your skin has a strong defence too.
Three ways to defend your skin:
⚽ Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30
⚽ Cover up with clothing, a hat and sunglasses
⚽ Find shade when the sun is strongest
And two ways to stay ahead:
⚽ Check your skin regularly so you know what is normal for you
⚽ Speak to your GP about any new or changing marks, moles or lesions
England defended their lead. Now it’s time to defend your skin.
Sun protection is not only for holidays or heatwaves. UV exposure can affect your skin whenever the UV level is high, including on cooler or cloudier days.
Congratulations to England on an unforgettable World Cup win.
Bring on Norway.
#WorldCup2026 #England #MelanomaUK #SunSafety #SkinCancerAwareness #CheckYourSkin
July is here, but how much do you know about everyday UV exposure?
Choose A, B, C or D before reading the answer below in the comments.
Did you get it right?
#MelanomaUK #UVSafety #SunSafety #SkinHealth #MelanomaAwareness
Our CEO, Tracy Paine MBE, is representing Melanoma UK at the British Association of Dermatologists Conference in Manchester this week.
The conference is a valuable opportunity to connect with dermatology professionals and international colleagues, share our resources and continue important conversations around melanoma prevention, early detection, treatment and support.
Attending #BAD2026? Visit Tracy at stand PSAG6 to meet Melanoma UK and learn more about our work.
#MelanomaUK #MelanomaAwareness #Dermatology #SkinHealth #EarlyDetection
Right now, the heatwave is reminding us to protect our skin. But what will remind us next week?
During very hot weather, sunscreen, shade and hats feel like obvious choices. The problem begins when the temperature drops and those habits disappear with it.
UV levels do not follow the thermometer. They can still be high on cooler days and strong through cloud, which is why relying on heat as your warning can leave your skin unprotected.
Instead of making sun protection a heatwave reaction, give it a permanent place in your routine:
- Check the UV index when you check the weather.
- Keep sunscreen beside something you use before leaving home.
- Leave a hat in your everyday bag or car.
- When the UV index is 3 or above, plan your protection.
The aim is not to think about melanoma only when the UK is unusually hot. It is to build small habits that continue when the headlines, warnings and heat have moved on.
What normally reminds you to protect your skin: the temperature, the sunshine or the UV index?
#MelanomaUK #MelanomaPrevention #SunSafety #UVIndex #ProtectYourSkin #SkinHealth
Have you been affected by melanoma, either as a patient or carer?
Your experience matters.
Melanoma UK is supporting Cancer52’s Patient Survey 2026, which is gathering the experiences, challenges and priorities of people affected by rare and less common cancers.
By taking part, you can help strengthen the evidence used to influence cancer research, policy and care, while ensuring melanoma is represented in national conversations.
The survey is anonymous and closes on Friday 10 July 2026.
Take part here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/c52patientsurvey
Please share this post with anyone in the melanoma community whose experience should be heard.
#MelanomaUK #Cancer52 #PatientVoice #MelanomaAwareness #CancerAdvocacy
Football fans will know Dan Burn for defending on the pitch.
This summer, he`s helping defend something else: the back of the neck.
New research from @bootsuk found that 80% of adults have burnt the back of their neck, while 82% admit they don`t always apply sunscreen there.
It`s one of the easiest places to miss, but one that receives significant UV exposure throughout the day.
The campaign comes with an important reminder. Men are three times more likely to develop melanoma on the neck and scalp than women, yet fewer than 10% of men surveyed believe sunscreen is necessary on a cloudy summer day.
UV exposure doesn`t stop when the clouds arrive.
Whether you`re watching football, working outdoors, gardening or spending time with family, remember to think about the areas you might normally forget.
This summer, think: Back of the Neck.
Read the full story in the link in our bio
#MelanomaUK #SunSafety #MelanomaAwareness #ProtectYourSkin #SkinCancerAwareness #UVSafety #CheckYourSkin
Melanoma May may be over.
The UV risk isn`t.
Awareness months are important because they start conversations. But preventing melanoma isn`t something that happens for 31 days a year. It happens every time we choose to protect our skin, check for changes, and talk to the people around us about UV safety.
As we move further into June and spend more time outdoors, the lessons from Melanoma May become even more relevant.
The conversations we had last month reminded us that:
☀️ Melanoma can affect anyone.
☀️ UV damage doesn`t only happen on holiday or during a heatwave.
☀️ Early detection can save lives.
☀️ Small habits, repeated consistently, can make a real difference.
So rather than asking what we learned during Melanoma May, perhaps the better question is:
What will we do with that knowledge this summer?
We`ve shared some of our key reflections from Melanoma May in our latest article.
#MelanomaUK #MelanomaMay #KnowYourSkin #SunSafety #UVSafety #SkinCheck #EarlyDetection #SkinCancerAwareness