Melanoma Monday, which this year falls on May 4, is an annual day aimed at spreading awareness about skin cancer.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s something you have all over your body that you\u2019re probably not as familiar with as you should be.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s your skin \u2014 your body\u2019s largest organ.<\/p>\n
Melanoma Monday, which this year falls on May 4, is an annual day aimed at spreading awareness about skin cancer<\/a> that was launched in 1995 by the American Academy of Dermatology.<\/p>\n Melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young people under age 30.<\/p>\n It\u2019s nearly 100% curable if caught in its early stages, but a recent survey by MedStar Health finds nearly half of U.S. adults (47%) have never had their skin checked for cancer by a doctor.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a really good idea for all adults to get a baseline skin screening at some point to assess risk,\u201d Dr. Allison Larson, physician executive director of dermatology for MedStar Health, told WTOP.<\/p>\n The study also found 58% of adults don\u2019t know that melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and 83% are unaware that melanoma can become life threatening in just six weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cSo if you have a spot on your skin, a dark spot, a mole that is irregular, is changing, it really needs to be checked,\u201d Larson said. \u201cIt\u2019s not something that can wait six months or a year.\u201d<\/p>\n