Skin cancer rates have been rising sharply for years. People tend to expose their skin to too much UV light. With basic knowledge of the sun’s radiation, protection from the sun and how to deal correctly with UV light it is still possible though to enjoy sunshine safely.

The following sections of the population are at an inherently greater risk:       

• a high number of moles
• blonde or red hair, blue eyes, freckles
• family history of melanoma       

Additional external risk factors include:

• intensive, repeated sunbathing
• 5 and more painful sunburns before the age of 15
• Use of indoor tanning beds

For skin cancer prevention it is important to use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor suitable to the respective intensity of the sunlight. Sunbathing without sunscreen should be avoided.

Children’s skin in particular is so sensitive that physicians advise the use of sun protective clothing.

As part of the skin cancer screening offered by the state, people over the age of 35 can have their doctor check their skin and moles every two years.       
Regular self-examinations of the skin can help detect skin changes and any moles that have grown in size early on.

The ABCDE mnemonic is helpful for visual screening:       

• Asymmetry
• Borders (irregular)
•  Colour (variegated)
• Diameter (greater than 5 mm)
• Elevation, steps towards the edges       

Additional changes should be seen by a doctor:       

• Increase in size
• Change to the shape of existing moles
• Itching
• Bleeding mole

How is melanoma treated?       
In terms of prognosis, it is crucial that the melanoma is removed in time. The choice of the best treatment option depends on the individual circumstances and different factors and needs to be decided by the physician together with the patient.

Different types of therapy are available for treating melanoma:       
Surgery       
Malignant melanoma needs to be removed completely with surgery. The extent of the surgery depends on the thickness of the tumour as determined histologically.       
If the tumour is thicker than one millimetre, the first lymph nodes in the lymphatic flow of the affected skin region should be removed surgically and examined. This examination allows for a more precise prediction of the disease course. If lymph nodes have already been invaded by tumour cells, the surrounding lymph nodes should be removed completely.
      
Adjuvant therapy       
In Germany, it is recommended to initiate immunotherapy in addition to surgery if the melanoma has penetrated further than 2 mm. The active substance stimulates the body’s immune system. Any remaining, non-visible tumour cells are thus attacked. 
     
Treatment in case of metastasis       
If metastasis is already present in the inner organs (e.g. lungs, bones, liver, brain), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, combined chemo-immunotherapy and targeted therapy can be used in addition to surgery.

For chemotherapy, several different substances are available. Remission of metastasis can thus be achieved and help provide relief from tumour-related symptoms.