© Provided by Cover Media A recent study by Cancer Research UK showed that people put off going to a GP to have cancer symptoms checked out during the first lockdown last year.
The research showed that 58.6 per cent of those who noticed a change in the appearance of a mole - which can be a key symptom of skin cancer - did not seek help, with participants citing reasons such as not wanting to waste healthcare professionals' time, worrying about putting an extra strain on the NHS, not wanting to make a fuss, and concern about catching Covid-19 at an appointment.
Dr Susan Mayou, Consultant Dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic in London, has now urged anyone who has noticed any changes in their moles to have them checked immediately, as there has been a 25 per cent rise in skin cancer patients at the clinic due to patients not accessing mole check services throughout the pandemic.
"This is a health check that should not be delayed until after lockdown; a thin melanoma of less than 0.75mm picked up early has a 95 per cent cure rate but this recovery rate reduces if the melanoma is thicker - time is of the essence," she warns.
Appointments can be made with the GP, who will be able to refer you to a dermatologist if required. Consultant Dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto also stresses the importance of having a qualified medical expert examine and, if necessary, perform the mole removal.
"This is a procedure that should never be undertaken by a beautician or unqualified practitioner. If it is a melanoma and isn't correctly removed, this could result in the potential spread of skin cancer," she says.
You should seek medical advice immediately if your mole has changed/is changing colour, has changed/is changing shape and size, is inflamed, itchy or painful, and is protruding or catching on clothing.