Melanoma B-RAF Awareness Day in the UK Date in the current year: May 26, 2025

Malignant melanoma, or simply melanoma, is one of the three most common types of skin cancer and the most dangerous. It develops from melanocytes, the skin cells responsible for producing the pigment melanin, which determines skin color. Melanoma is usually caused by DNA damage from exposure to UV radiation, but genetics also play a role in its development.

One of the genes that can be involved in the development of melanoma is BRAF (B-RAF). It encodes B-Raf, a protein involved in transmitting signals that regulate cell growth. Mutations in the BRAF gene have been found in several types of cancer, including melanoma, brain tumors, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, colorectal cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, and several others. The BRAF mutation is the most common gene mutation in melanoma; nearly half of all melanoma patients have it.

The good news is that there is a targeted therapy for BRAF-positive melanoma (melanoma caused by a mutation in the BRAF gene). Drugs called BRAF inhibitors can be used to treat late-stage, metastatic melanoma. These include vemurafenib (Zelboraf), dabrafenib (Tafinlar), sorafenib (Nexavar), and encorafenib (Braftovi).

When a patient is diagnosed with melanoma, a test is usually done to determine their B-RAF status. However, doctors sometimes do not tell patients about their B-RAF status or do not explain well enough what it means for their diagnosis, treatment options and prognosis. A lack of knowledge about the type of melanoma they have and the full range of treatment options available to them can leave patients and their loved ones feeling overwhelmed and unsure of their options going forward. This is why it is so important to raise awareness about the role of B-RAF mutations in the development of melanoma, the importance of B-RAF status, and the targeted therapies available to patients with BRAF-positive melanoma.

Melanoma B-RAF Awareness Day was launched in 2022 by the patient support and advocacy group Melanoma UK and the healthcare company Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd. Its main aim is to raise awareness of B-RAF status and what it means for a patient’s diagnosis. According to a 2021 patient survey conducted by Melanoma UK, one third of melanoma patients don’t know their B-RAF mutation status and therefore don’t have access to targeted treatment options. B-RAF Awareness Day aims to change this.

How can you get involved with Melanoma B-RAF Awareness Day? If you have melanoma and don’t know your B-RAF status, ask your healthcare team to find out. Other ways to get involved - for anyone, cancer patient or not - include donating to an organization that supports cancer patients and spreading the word on social media using the hashtags #MelanomaBRAFAwarenessDay and #MelanomaAwareness.