Instead of manic Monday, did you know that today is Melanoma Monday? Just in time for summer, the American Cancer Society has designated the month of May as skin cancer awareness month.

Raised in Florida and always out in the sun, Brenda Fagan began to get concerned when she noticed spots on her skin, that she never had before. "Sometimes they won't heal, they look like a little scratch and you go look at them and they just don't heal."

Fortunately for Brenda, her spots were a superficial form of skin cancer but for other moles or skin lesions that fit a particular description are considered to be telltale signs of more dangerous type of skin cancer. Plastic Surgeon Michael Kim explains how they usually look. "They're generally black, irregular border, changing in color, irregular color, increasing in size."

Dr. Kim says that this more aggressive form of skin cancer is melanoma and it's responsible for about 80% of skin cancer deaths, so melanoma is much more deadly than the average skin cancer.

And the main cause of melanoma? It's just like many other skin cancers, spending too much time in the sun. Brenda says "I love gardening, I like fishing, I like being outside, and I do protection on my skin now. Every day I wear 30 plus."

Protecting ourselves from the sun is essential to help prevent all forms of skin cancer. It's also important to check moles that you have for any suspicious changes and see your physician regularly to discuss any concerns.

People who suffer a few severe, blistering sunburns during childhood or adolescence are particularly prone to melanoma as adults. The disease can strike people of any age but is more common in those over 40.