Although there are several different types of skin cancer, most
don't become life-threatening because they aren't likely to
spread to other parts of the body. Unfortunately, melanoma is
different. If not caught early, melanoma can spread from the
skin to other organs — often with deadly results. And this
serious skin cancer is no longer considered just an older
person's disease. Rates are on the rise — especially among
people in their teens and 20s — and research shows that the
increase may be partly related to ultraviolet (UV) sun exposure
during childhood. In the United States alone, the percentage of
people who develop melanoma has more than doubled in the past
three decades. If there's any good news about melanoma, it's
this: You have the power to substantially lower your family's
risk of getting it by protecting kids from the sun, paying
attention to the moles on their skin, and making sure they know
from an early age just how important it is to take sun safety
seriously. Melanoma is a type of cancer tha