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Melanoma Monday: What you need to know about the most serious type of skin cancer

May 1 is known as Melanoma Monday, with the goal of bringing awareness to the deadliest form of skin cancer.

CLEVELAND — Melanoma is the most invasive type of skin cancer with the highest risk of death. It grows fast, can spread, and can return after removal.

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One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70.  If you’ve had more than five sunburns as an adult and a blistering sunburn in your life your risk of melanoma doubles.

Ohio’s rate of melanoma is higher than the national average and Geauga County has the highest rate of cases in the state. Lake, Medina, Erie, Wayne and Tuscarawas Counties aren’t far behind in Northeast Ohio.

More Ohio men than women are diagnosed and it was usually diagnosed around age 65 for men, after age 55 for women.

The good news is most cases were discovered in early stages which helps with survival rate, but Ohio’s death rate during the study between 2015 and 2019 was 14% higher than the national average.

Read the study HERE

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