Melanoma Patients Reveal Dramatic Stories During Skin Cancer Awareness Month: ‘I Thought I Was Being Safe’

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States: one in five Americans develops the disease before the age of 70.

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancerwhich is expected to cost more than 8,200 lives in the United States this year.

This May, for Skin Cancer Awareness Month, two melanoma patients share how they overcame this invasive form of the disease.

SKIN CANCER CONTROLS AND SUNSCREEN: WHY IT’S (STILL) VERY IMPORTANT FOR GOOD HEALTH

Some even wrongly assumed that what she was experiencing “was just a normal part of aging and exposure to the sun.” Here’s what others can learn.

What is melanoma?

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in melanocytes, cells that produce pigment (color) in the skin.

Most, but not all, cases are caused by exposure to ultraviolet light. Melanoma can affect people of all skin tones and types.

“Melanoma is one of the most common type of cancer in younger patients,” Nayoung Lee, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Health, told Fox News Digital.

The prognosis is “very good” when melanoma is detected at an early stage, but the survival rate drops sharply when it is detected at a later stage, she noted.

“Melanoma can spread through the bloodstream to lymph nodes and distant organs, so it is crucial to have regular skin exams to try to detect it early,” Lee said.

A mother’s story

Abby Weiner, 43, wife and mother of three young boys living in Washington DChad always been careful to protect her skin from the sun — which is why her melanoma diagnosis in October 2023 was such a shock, she said.

“I had a spot on my cheek that started as a freckle and started getting darker and bigger,” she told Fox News Digital.

“I thought it was just a normal part of aging and exposure to the sun.”

VACCINE AGAINST DEADLY SKIN CANCER SHOWS “REMOVED” RESULTS IN CLINICAL TRIAL

Weiner’s sister encouraged her to get tested, which led to a biopsy and a diagnosis.

“I was visibly shocked and scared at first,” Weiner said.

Her melanoma was removed using Mohs surgerya procedure in which thin layers of skin are removed one at a time.

“I needed two procedures to remove the cancer and surrounding margins,” she said. “Now most people don’t even know I had surgery.”

For others, Weiner’s advice is to remember to seek shade, wear sun-protective clothing, and apply a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen daily with an SPF of 30 or more, throughout the year.

“If we were eating outside and there wasn’t a table in the shade, I’d end up sitting in the sun.”

“I thought I was careful to protect myself from sun exposure by wearing a hat or applying sunscreen when my family was at the pool or planning to be outside – but what if we ate outside and If there was no table in the shade, I would end up sitting in the sun.”

Now, Weiner said she’ll wait a little longer for a shaded table and always keeps a hat and sunscreen with her.

“My sons used to have difficulty applying sunscreen and wearing hats, but now that they have seen the impact of skin cancer on me, they are more cooperative,” she said.

CANCER SCREENINGS: HERE ARE 5 TYPES AND CRITICAL INFORMATION TO KNOW ABOUT EACH

Weiner also recommends that everyone have annual skin checks with a certified dermatologist.

“I have so many friends – and even my sister, who probably saved my life – who didn’t regularly see a dermatologist for an annual skin exam until they learned about my melanoma.”

The story of a beach lover

Steve Murray, 68, of the greater Washington, D.C., area, has worked in construction for several decades.

During his childhood, Murray spent his summers at the beach Ocean City, New Jerseyand winter visits to Florida, where he was exposed to the sun and did little to protect himself.

In the late 1990s, Murray was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, and squamous cell carcinoma, a variant of skin cancer that tends to develop in people with high exposure. under the sun.

In 2008, he was diagnosed with melanoma.

“My first symptoms included itching and flaking on my head, followed by irritation,” he told Fox News Digital.

“Then there was some discoloration and irregularity in the shape of my moles.”

“You don’t notice it at the time of initial exposure, but it haunts you later in life.”

Initially, Murray feared the worst – “mostly death” – but his dermatologist determined that the melanoma was only on his scalp and had not spread to his lymph nodes.

Like Weiner, Murray underwent Mohs surgery to get rid of the cancer – and he was cleared.

VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CREATES SOAP TO FIGHT SKIN CANCER, RECEIVES $25,000: “REMARKABLE EFFORT”

Since this diagnosis, Murray has had several more episodes of skin cancer.

In 2024, he underwent two surgeries for squamous cell carcinoma in his hand and back.

Now, Murray visits the dermatologist every three to six months. Additionally, he always wears a hat, sunscreen, and long sleeves whenever possible to protect himself from the sun.

Murray’s advice to others is to sunscreen a priority outside.

“You don’t notice it at the time of initial exposure, but it haunts you later in life when you start to develop precancers and skin cancers like squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma that need immediate attention,” he told Fox News Digital.

“The detection of these precancers and skin cancers must be diagnosed early with regular check-ups,” he added. “Failure to do so could result in death.”

5 protection tips from an expert

Dr Lee from NYU Langone Health shared five tips to help prevent life-threatening skin cancers like melanoma.

1. Avoid sunbathing

“Avoiding a burn is really only half the battle – there’s no such thing as a base tan,” Lee said. “Damaged skin is damaged skin.”

For a safer way to get a bronzed glow on your first beach day of summer, Lee recommends using self-tanning products.

2. Wear sunscreen every day, in all weather and in all seasons

When applying sunscreen, Lee recommends using 1 ounce, which would fill a shot glass.

IF YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN HAVE RED SPOTS, THIS IS WHAT YOUR SKIN IS TRYING TO TELL YOU

“It should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 and say ‘broad spectrum’ on the label, which protects against the sun’s UVA and UVB rays,” she said.

Reapply at least every 80 minutes, or more often if you sweat or swim.

3. Use physical sunscreen

According to Lee, physical sunscreen contains zinc or titanium, which is more effective than chemical sunscreen.

4. Learn how to do a skin self-exam

“Examine your skin regularly to know what’s normal and notice any changes or new growth,” Lee advised.

“Seek evaluation from a dermatologist if you notice any change, bleeding, or persistent itching.”

5. Apply the ABCDE rule

This is the best way to determine if a mole or blemish is cancerous, according to Lee.

The ABCDE rule tells you what to look for when examine your skin.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

The A stands for asymmetrical. “Noncancerous moles are usually symmetrical,” Lee said.

B means border, because the border of a cancerous spot or mole may be irregular or blurry.

C represents color. “A typical mole tends to be uniform in color, usually a single shade of brown,” Lee noted.

“Not all melanomas are dark and scary-looking. They can be amelanotic, which means they may be more skin-colored or pink.”

D stands for diameter of the spot or mole, which can be a warning sign if it’s larger than 6 millimeters, according to Lee.

If the spot is evolving, which is what E means, that could be cause for concern.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Lee added: “Because the appearance of melanomas can vary, it is important to see a dermatologist regularly for skin exams if you have a history of significant sun exposure, have numerous moles, atypical appearance or if you have a family or personal history of melanoma so that… .