Devon skin cancer alert

Skin cancer rates in the South West of England are twice the English average, according to new figures.

There were more than 800 new cases of melanoma diagnosed in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset in 2012, with more than 100 people dying from the disease.

The figures were released as part of a new campaign by Public Health England to raise awareness of skin cancer.

Professor Debra Lapthorne, centre director of the Devon, Cornwall and Somerset PHE Centre, said: "Statistics show that those living in the Devon, Cornwall and Somerset area are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer compared to the rest of England.

"There could be any number of reasons for this but it's likely to be due to a high number of outdoor jobs and leisure pursuits as well as an older population. We are committed to raising awareness of the key signs of the disease, to encourage earlier diagnosis, when treatment is more likely to be successful.

"The campaign message is clear, if you notice any unusual or persistent changes to your skin, you should visit your doctor." PHE said some people were more at risk of getting skin cancer than other but knowledge of the risks was low.

Only one in three in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset know that people with lots of moles and freckles are more likely to get skin cancer while only 32 per cent are aware that a family history of skin cancer increases risk.

Of those diagnosed with melanoma in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, four in five are over the age of 50 and one in four people diagnosed with the most serious form of the disease in the West do not survive beyond five years, the figures have revealed.