Healing starts with a mole: Melanoma Day and the power of prevention

A small mole on the skin can hide a serious threat, but if detected early, it can be treated and cured. This is the power of prevention in the fight against melanoma, one of the most aggressive and fast-spreading forms of cancer.

Each year, thanks to the Melanoma Day initiative, thousands of people receive free screenings, become more aware of their risks, and, in many cases, save their lives. «I founded the Melanoma Day association in memory of my father, whom I lost in 2017, on March 20, the day after Father’s Day,” says Gianluca Pistore, science communicator, author, and president of the Melanoma Day association. “I thought of creating an event because I realized: without treatment, my father would have died before March 20. In a way, science and medicine gave me one more Father’s Day with him. That’s why I wanted to create something that could give many more Mother’s and Father’s Days to other families. And so Melanoma Day was born: the largest prevention event in Italy, which even inspired a new law recently passed unanimously in the Chamber of Deputies to officially recognize Melanoma Day as a national awareness and prevention day».

Melanoma: traits, and risk factors

Melanoma is a particularly aggressive skin cancer that originates from melanocytes, the cells that give our skin its brown pigment. «Melanocytes can go rogue and form tumors known as melanomas – explains Pistore -. What’s important to understand is that melanocytes aren’t only found on the skin, they’re also present in places you wouldn’t expect, like the back of the eye, the genitals, or the lining of internal organs. Fortunately, non-skin melanomas are much rarer».

The disease is highly dangerous, but the good news is that it’s also highly preventable. Risk factors include both genetics and environmental behaviors. People with a family history of melanoma, very fair skin, freckles, or many moles are more likely to develop the disease. «There are risk factors we can’t change, like our genes, but that doesn’t mean a diagnosis is inevitable. What really makes the difference is how we manage the risks we can control», Pistore says.

One of the most significant controllable risk factors is exposure to UV radiation, particularly intense, unprotected sun exposure during childhood, and the use of tanning beds.

How to spot a suspicious mole

Melanoma often develops silently and without symptoms. This makes it especially dangerous. It’s essential to monitor your skin and be alert to changes. «In some cases, it may bleed or grow very quickly. In others, we might notice a mole changing color, shape, or showing unusual evolving features. However, we must keep in mind that in three out of four cases, melanoma develops on healthy skin, not from a changing mole, but from a new lesion altogether. That’s why we need to follow the A, B, C, D, E rule», explains Pistore. The rule encourages observing for asymmetry in the lesion, irregular borders, the presence of multiple colors, diameter (especially if greater than 6 mm), and evolution of a recently appeared lesion. “These are changes that need to be checked, but it doesn’t mean we should panic or assume the worst. What’s important is to have them evaluated by a dermatologist,” Pistore advises.

There are two types of prevention: primary, which focuses on avoiding the disease in the first place, and secondary, which involves early diagnosis. «Because some risk is unavoidable, a non-invasive dermatological exam, a simple lens used to examine the lesion, can lead to an early diagnosis, which significantly improves prognosis», says Pistore.

Prevention is self-care

Not long ago, «melanoma was seen as a death sentence due to extremely low survival rates for metastatic cases. But the landscape is changing, thanks to targeted therapies and immunotherapy. And now, promising mRNA vaccine research offers new hope. These are still early studies, but the results are encouraging. That said, when it comes to melanoma, it’s always better to prevent than to treat».

Prevention is a powerful form of self-care. Leading a healthy lifestyle and getting regular checkups should be seen not as a burden, but as a smart and even fashionable choice. «Wellness can be just as trendy as partying. We should enjoy being healthy and aim for a long, active life», Pistore says.

Throughout May, several melanoma-focused events took place, including a conference at the Italian Chamber of Deputies, the Melanoma Day Congress, and a day of free screenings. These initiatives reflect the association’s tireless work in promoting awareness and prevention. «Our goals remain the same: to educate people on how to prevent melanoma, what truly makes a difference, and to offer as many free screenings as possible – concludes Pistore -. At every Melanoma Day, we perform hundreds of dermatological exams, identifying many lesions that need removal. We’ve had early diagnoses that have saved lives, stories of mothers and fathers who got to spend more time with their children. And that’s what Melanoma Day is all about».