As summer approaches, health experts are urging the public to take sun protection more seriously. May marks Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and doctors say the risks, especially from melanoma, should not be underestimated.
Melanoma, the deadliest of the three most common skin cancers, claims the life of one American every hour. In Roanoke, the melanoma incidence rate is about 21 cases per 100,000 people, slightly below the national average, according to the National Cancer Institute. Still, doctors warn the numbers are climbing.
“Melanoma will be the third most common cancer diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 25 and 39,” said Dr. Alan Thomay, a surgical oncologist with WVU Medicine. “So, it’s a lot more common in younger patients than most people believe.”…