More men than women get screened

One suspected case of melanoma - the most dangerous form of skin cancer - was identified yesterday morning during the annual screening as part of the Euro Melanoma campaign.

Lawrence Scerri, the head of Sir Paul Boffa's Dermatology Department, said another two suspected cases of non-melanoma skin cancer were also identified.

This year's campaign, which emphasises that men are also at risk of skin cancer, seems to have had its desired effect - 49 of the 86 patients who attended the clinic were men.

Every year the dermatology department organises a one-day screening clinic and it urges people with suspicious lesions to attend.

Dr Scerri pointed out, however, that screening does not only take place on Melanoma Monday but throughout the year, and he urged people with suspicious lesions to contact their doctor who would then refer them to the department.

Melanoma can develop anywhere on the skin, and in up to 50 per cent of cases within an existing mole. Lesions are normally asymmetrical, have an irregular border, more than one colour and a diameter larger than six millimetres. One in five cases is fatal.

A number of patients who spoke to The Times expressed their concern that years of sun exposure - especially when they were younger - could put them at risk of melanoma.

Yesterday was the Melanoma Monday for Saviour Mallia and Mary Debattista. Both admitted a history of sun exposure, although they shy away from it today. Ms Debattista said she had already had some lesions removed and wanted to be checked again.

Twenty-three-year old Jean Paul Mallia was one of the youngest to attend yesterday. He said that although his relatively fair skin burnt easily, he still used to spend time in the sun in pursuit of a tan. He said his friends urged him to have his moles checked.

A German man living in Malta said he tries to avoid the peak of sunshine, but still decided to be checked, saying that "you always worry when you see changes on your body since you are never sure what it is".

Thirty-four men and 34 women died from the disease between 1993 and last year. The figures, collected by the Health Information Department, show that 153 men and 183 women developed melanoma between 1993 and 2005.