What is Melanoma BRAF Awareness Day?
Melanoma BRAF Awareness Day is a disease awareness day launched by Melanoma UK and takes place every year on 26th May as part of Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month.
This new day aims to:
- Raise awareness and understanding of BRAF status: what it is, how you test for it and what it means for a patient’s diagnosis.
- Support conversations between people with melanoma and their doctor
- Give people diagnosed with melanoma the confidence they need when talking to their healthcare team.
- Empower patients with information to support them as an informed participant in their care pathway.
Join the conversation on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn) and use the campaign hashtags
#MelanomaAwarenessMonth
#Melanoma
#SkinCancer
#MelanomaBRAFAwarenessDay
When is Melanoma BRAF Awareness Day?
Melanoma BRAF awareness day will take place every year on 26th May.
Why is Melanoma BRAF Awareness day important?
Being diagnosed with skin cancer can be extremely worrying, a time of uncertainty and feeling overwhelmed. For many, little is known about the different types of skin cancer and the ways it can be treated.
Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer and the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with over 40 cases diagnosed every day. If detected early melanoma is almost always treatable.
Melanoma is a complex disease and multiple gene alterations have been found to play a role in its progression.
The three most common gene mutations in melanoma are BRAF, NRAS and c-KIT. Of these, the BRAF mutation is most common: around 40-50% of melanoma patients have it.
There are treatments available that specifically target this type of mutation and a test to determine your BRAF status will be carried out when you are diagnosed. You should be told the result to help decide the best form of treatment.
How can I get involved in Melanoma BRAF Awareness Day?
Join the conversation on social media by following Melanoma UK and using the campaign hashtags #MelanomaBRAFAwarenessDay
Get to know your BRAF status – check out our ‘Get under the skin of it’
Ask your medical team more questions – download our patient guide and checklist. You can also find out more using this handy resource.
For more information:
Contact Diane Cannon, Melanoma UK: Diane.Cannon@melanomauk.org.uk
Further information on melanoma and BRAF click here
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