October Newsletter

Vol. 10 | October 2024

This fall, and all year long, we encourage you to focus on safety by protecting the delicate skin around your eyes from skin cancer and premature aging.

Most skin cancers that develop around the eyes are basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). Good Morning America host and weather anchor Sam Champion recently announced that he had a BCC removed from his eye area and took to Instagram to document his journey and encourage his fans to check and protect their skin.

While BCCs rarely spread, if left untreated they can grow larger, making surgical treatment difficult – with the potential to cause tissue damage and blindness. Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) account for a smaller percentage of eyelid skin cancers and have a higher chance of spreading. Melanoma, a more dangerous form of skin cancer, can occur around and in the eye (ocular melanoma), but it is far less common.

The good news is that you can prevent sun damage to your eyes and eyelids by wearing UV-blocking sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, applying sunscreen and seeking the shade.

Check your skin from head-to-toe monthly and if you see anything new, changing or unusual, do not wait! Go get checked by a dermatologist.

Please help us reach our Save Destination Healthy Skin fundraising goal, so that we can continue providing lifesaving free skin cancer screenings for people in need.

We’re appealing to you because this is an emergency. As a friend of the Foundation, you know that skin cancer can be deadly when detected too late. That’s why it is so vital to keep Destination Healthy Skin (DHS) on the road, saving lives for years to come.

The fall leg of our 2024 Destination Healthy Skin free skin cancer screening and education program is underway. In September, we held events in Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia and New York, wrapped up our New York visit in early October, then headed south for events in North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The season ends in November, with several events planned, including one in Paducah, KY. Check the schedule for more details.

Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far this year.

• 45 events around the country
• 2,116 free skin cancer screenings provided by 74 volunteer dermatologists
• 829 potential skin cancers and precancers identified by our dermatologists, including 69 suspected melanomas
• 5,300+ people received free educational materials, skin care and sun protection products

In My Mother’s Eyes: Her Ocular Melanoma Story

Ocular (meaning “of the eye”) melanoma is very different from cutaneous (“of the skin”) melanoma. Learn more about this rare form of melanoma, in a story told by the daughter of a survivor.

Melissa’s Battle Against Chronic Skin Cancer: “It Keeps Coming Back.”

Since 2010, when she was diagnosed with Stage I melanoma, Melissa Garrett has been fighting a grueling battle against chronic skin cancer, including a second melanoma in 2021, and so many basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) that she has lost track.

Skin Cancer Detection Through Touch, Technology & Teamwork

World Sight Day was October 10. We often say that skin cancer is the cancer you can see, but for the visually impaired, it may be challenging to identify skin cancer warning signs. Thankfully, there are ways for visually impaired people to stay on top of skin health and detect potential skin cancers early.

A Melanoma Expert’s Best Advice on How to Beat It

Steven Q. Wang, MD, a renowned skin cancer expert, walks patients through every phase of a melanoma diagnosis in his latest book, Beating Melanoma.

Thanks to our amazing community The Skin Cancer Foundation earned the 2024 Top-Rated Award from Great Nonprofits. This honor means the world to us because we received it by earning the trust of our community. Thank you to all who gave us positive reviews.

This distinction is a measure of our efficiency, sustainability and transparency, and sends the message that donors can give to our cause with confidence.

Mark your calendars for #GivingTuesday, a day to celebrate each and every single act of generosity we have to offer. Pick a cause that gets you fired up – like The Skin Cancer Foundation – spread the word about our free skin cancer screenings, education and research – and get out the give!

Join our community of monthly donors and become a member of the Skin Protection Fund (SPF). Your recurring gift will steadily support the lifesaving programs of the Foundation and help us educate the public and the medical community about skin cancer, its prevention by means of sun protection, the need for early detection and prompt, effective treatment. Learn more and donate here.

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