Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK.,Incidence rates have quadrupled over the last 30 years and continue to rise, especially among younger people.,As routine screening of the general population is not currently recommended in the UK, a focus on secondary prevention through early detection and prompt treatment in individuals at increased risk of melanoma could make an important contribution to improve melanoma outcomes.,This paper describes the protocol for a phase II, multisite, randomised controlled trial, in the primary care setting, for patients at increased risk of melanoma.,A skin self-monitoring (SSM) smartphone ‘App’ was used to improve symptom appraisal and encourage help seeking in primary care, thereby promoting early presentation with skin changes suspicious of melanoma.,We aim to recruit 200 participants from general practice waiting rooms in the East of England.,Eligible patients are those identified at higher melanoma risk (using a real-time risk assessment tool), without a personal history of melanoma, aged 18 to 75 years.,Participants will be invited to a primary care nurse consultation, and randomised to the intervention group (standard written advice on skin cancer detection and sun protection, loading of an SSM ‘App’ onto the participant’s smartphone and instructions on use including self-monitoring reminders) or control group (standard written advice alone).,The primary outcomes are consultation rates for changes to a pigmented skin lesion, and the patient interval (time from first noticing a skin change to consultation).,Secondary outcomes include patient sun protection behaviours, psychosocial outcomes, and measures of trial feasibility and acceptability.,NHS ethical approval has been obtained from Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire research ethics committee (REC reference 16/EE/0248).,The findings from the MelaTools SSM Trial will be disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publications and scientific conferences.,ISCTRN16061621.
•Two UK cancer registries examined for seasonal differences in melanoma diagnosis.,•More patients with melanoma were diagnosed in the summer than winter months.,•Seasonal patterns varied by sex, melanoma thickness, type and body site.,•Seasonal patterns were most marked for melanomas diagnosed on limbs.,•Awareness campaigns could highlight seasonal differences in melanoma diagnosis.,Two UK cancer registries examined for seasonal differences in melanoma diagnosis.,More patients with melanoma were diagnosed in the summer than winter months.,Seasonal patterns varied by sex, melanoma thickness, type and body site.,Seasonal patterns were most marked for melanomas diagnosed on limbs.,Awareness campaigns could highlight seasonal differences in melanoma diagnosis.,Worldwide, the incidence of cutaneous melanoma has been reported to be highest in the summer and lowest in the winter.,Northern Irish data suggested seasonal variation for women only, especially those with thinner melanomas, sited on limbs.,We interrogated two larger UK cancer registries for temporal differences in melanoma diagnosis and associated patient characteristics.,Melanomas diagnosed from 2006 to 2010 in the Eastern England and Scottish cancer registries (n = 11,611) were analysed by month of diagnosis, patient demographics and melanoma characteristics, using descriptive and multivariate modelling methods.,More patients with melanoma were diagnosed in the summer months (June 9.9%, July 9.7%, August 9.8%) than the winter months (December 7.2%, January 7.2%, February 7.1%) and this pattern was consistent in both regions.,There was evidence that the seasonal patterns varied by sex (p = 0.015), melanoma thickness (p = 0.002), body site (p = 0.006), and type (superficial spreading melanomas p = 0.005).,The seasonal variation was greatest for diagnosis of melanomas occurring on the limbs.,This study has confirmed seasonal variation in melanoma diagnosis in Eastern England and Scotland across almost all population demographics and melanoma characteristics studied, with higher numbers diagnosed in the summer months, particularly on the limbs.,Seasonal patterns in skin awareness and related help-seeking are likely to be implicated.,Targeted patient interventions to increase sun awareness and encourage year-long skin inspection are warranted.