Say No to Tanning Salons Your teen years are supposed to be some of the best of your life, but that was not the case for one of my patients, a very tan 16-year-old. She and her mother frequented a tanning salon weekly; they liked the results and felt they looked “healthier.” However, because tanning booths afford a certain level of privacy, both mother and daughter developed malignant melanoma in places that would not normally be exposed to the sun. Clearly, the tanning booth was a major factor in producing this potentially fatal disease. After surgery, both are doing relatively well. But, now they face a life with the possibility for many potential new cancers to appear and ultimate death from skin cancer caused by UV rays, both natural and artificial.—John Laskas, Jr. MD
Men Don’t Have Tougher Skin Men don’t typically pay attention to their skin as closely as women, and it shows in the statistics. In Pennsylvania, males account for 60 percent of deaths from Melanoma. I treated a relatively young man, 35, who loved to be outdoors doing yard work and enjoying the pool. With somewhat fair skin and numerous moles and freckles, he was already at high risk for skin cancer. Fortunately, his wife made an appointment to have his skin checked and yes, he had Melanoma, which was successfully treated surgically. Because she paid attention to his skin, his wife saved his life. I can’t emphasize how important it is to have a regular skin cancer screening and to protect yourself from sun damage.—Bruce Brod, MD
Maria Whitehead, Field Hockey Star, Coach Athletic and vibrant field hockey standout Maria Whitehead graduated from West Chester East High School in 1999 and went on to become a nationally known player at Wake Forest University. After college, Maria took the reins at St. Louis Universityand became the NCAA’s youngest head coach.
Maria’s dark hair, dark complexion and dark eyes made her appear less vulnerable to skin cancer. At the age of 24, Maria had a cancerous mole removed from her back. Five months later, she discovered a lump under her skin around the spot where the mole had been removed. A visit to the doctor confirmed that the cancer was back and that it (melanoma) had spread to her brain. Nineteen months after the initial diagnosis, Maria Whitehead died.
For more information, visit Melanoma International Foundation.