May is both bladder cancer and skin cancer awareness month.
Skin Cancer
Nearly 9 in 10 cases of melanoma are preventable and increasing numbers of people are being diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. There are now over 19,300 new cases each year in the UK.
Melanoma Focus are encouraging people to be sun-safe and to contact their GP if they notice changes in their moles or lesions. Many of these moles or lesions do NOT end up being anything serious, however, it is always important to be diagnosed early as early stage melanomas are generally curable.
They have produced a skin care check leaflet, to enable you to spot the signs to watch out for.
Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is not a rare cancer, and being aware of the signs is vital for early diagnosis. Key symptoms include blood in the urine, even a single episode; the persistent or recurrent need to pass urine more often or more urgently; and pelvic pain/discomfort. If you experience any of these, it’s essential to seek advice from a health professional as soon as possible.