Uncle Mel visited last month. Hes a real cut-up. Cant say I really love it when he drops in, though hes taught me a lot. Talked me out of being a lawyer, for one thing. Favors dont come much bigger than that.

You may know him better by his full name, melanoma. He kills about 48,000 people a year, including some 9,180 Americans in 2012, about one an hour. Northwest Europeans, so privileged in countless ways, have a much better chance of making Mels acquaintance five times more likely than Hispanics and 20 times more than African Americans.

Since 2004, Mel meets an additional 3 percent of us each year, though I wonder if this is largely because were becoming better at recognizing him. His calling card is a new spot on the skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color. Another important sign is a spot that looks different from all of the other spots on your skin.

Sometimes melanoma does not fit the rules. Talk to your doctor if you get a funny feeling about anything or if something bugs your dog. Mine let me know he didnt like the smell of the spreading freckles on my left temple this summer. Better make time for that overdue dermatology checkup, I decided.

Although the overall number of cases is up, according to the American Cancer Society deaths among non-Hispanic whites have been falling since the early 1990s but only among we who have more than a high school education.

A study this year says this may reflect people with lower incomes getting more exposure to the sun during outdoor jobs, coupled with less awareness of melanoma and scant access to health care.

Ive got education and good doctors, and intervened early during each of Mels three visits in the past 25 years. Full implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2014 will provide routine medical access to millions.

Noticing Uncle Mel before he gets more than skin deep will save lots of lives.

I was sure stupid about the sun. Far too much time unprotected on high mountains and equatorial coral beds. What a spoiled brat I was to get those days. But its not that hard to avoid a sunburn.

Genes are the other issue. Men with my MC1R and SLC45A2 genes are about 40 percent more likely to meet Mel. But maybe theres something else lying undiscovered in my genes that keeps skin cancer shallow and relatively safe. This latest one was Stage Zero. If youre going to meet melanoma, this is the way to do it.

But your face isnt the place to get it. Counting last weeks surgeries, Ive had enough hide removed over the years to make a ladys change purse. Its healing OK. Could have lost my ear. Or an eye. Didnt. Grateful. Im having a contest for best story to explain it to strangers.

Listen up, wives after age 40 your husband is twice as likely to get it than you are. If you see something that worries you, insist he get it checked out. You can absolutely save his life.

My adventures with Uncle Mel are over until next time. He keeps my priorities straight. Thanks. Dont be in a rush to come back.

Matt Winters is editor and publisher at the Chinook Observer in Long Beach, Wash., a sister paper of the East Oregonian.