Statewide Iowa (RI) — May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and Darcie Follon, a registered nurse and health nurse educator in Clay County, is urging Iowans to do a monthly self-check.
Melanoma is the most invasive form of skin cancer with the highest risk of death. According to the Iowa Cancer Registry, cases of melanoma in Iowa have increased by 169% since 1992.
Follon says people who are at higher risk should see a dermatologist yearly.
She says there are certain things to watch for, such as a mole that’s asymmetrical, has irregular edges, different colors, or is larger than a pencil eraser.
According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, melanoma is one of the most common and dangerous cancers among adolescents and adults under 40. Iowa had the fourth-highest melanoma rate in the country from 2018 to 2022.
KIWA Staff Photo
