This week I met with the charity Melanoma Focus to learn more about, and help to raise awareness of melanoma skin cancer. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, accounting for 1% of all cancer deaths and killing 2,300 people in the UK per year.

At the event in Parliament, I met with melanoma skin cancer specialists and patients with first-hand experience of melanoma to discuss the importance of symptom awareness and skin protection in reducing the growing number of melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK.

Melanoma Focus is a national charity dedicated to providing a comprehensive and authoritative source of information for public and professionals alike, as well as supporting education and promoting research about melanoma.

Melanoma skin cancer is becoming more common in the UK with around 16,700 new cases every year (46 every day). Since the early 1990s incidence rates have more than doubled and in males, they have almost tripled. It is expected to continue to rise.

1 in 36 men and 1 in 47 women in the UK will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in their lifetime. Yet 86% of melanomas are preventable.

My Labour colleague Chris Bryant MP hosted the event and became a Patron of the charity following his diagnosis with stage 3 melanoma skin cancer in 2019.

I’m very happy to have been able to add my support to Melanoma Awareness Month. It’s very concerning that cases of this disease are rising across the UK and I join MPs from across Parliament in encouraging everyone in Cardiff Central, and across the UK, to take skin health seriously and protect themselves and their loved ones.