Skin Cancer Awareness Starts with You!

Skin cancer is the most common cancer, a relentless disease that strikes one in five Americans. Here in the U.S. more people are diagnosed with the disease each year than all other cancers combined. Fortunately, when caught and treated early, skin cancer is highly curable. When allowed to progress, it can cause disfigurement and even death.

Skin cancer will not pause, and neither will we. During Skin Cancer Awareness Month, many of us are separated, but we can still come together to share the facts about skin cancer and help save lives. We’re in this together, and we’re grateful for everything you do to help spread the word!

#SharetheFacts

• Download Our Skin Cancer Awareness Month Social Media Toolkit
   
• Test Your Skin Cancer Knowledge
   
• Share the Skin Cancer Facts & Statistics
   
• Skin Cancer 101: What You Need to Know

What is Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells. It occurs when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells triggers mutations that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors.  

The main types of skin cancer are:

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
• Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
• Melanoma
• Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC)

COVID-19 & You: FAQs

Q: Are skin cancer patients at greater risk for COVID-19?

A: Because COVID-19 is new, physicians and scientists are still learning about the disease, including risk factors for developing severe illness. Older people and people with underlying health issues may be at higher risk for developing severe symptoms or complications. Patients receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy and patients recovering from surgery may have a weaker immune system and may also be at greater risk. If you are concerned about your risk, check the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for information on COVID-19: People Who Are at a Higher Risk of Severe Illness.

Get more answers to common questions here along with resources and information specific to COVID-19 and cancer patients.

Community Corner

Our Facebook community weighs in:

“Have you had a teledermatology appointment? If so, how did it go?”

96 votes (14% Yes) (86% No)

“It went really well! I had a telehealth appointment two weeks ago and had a biopsy yesterday.”

“Went very well! I uploaded images of a new lesion on my face that appeared near a previous BCC. My derm wants to biopsy and I made an appointment for early June. It was reassuring.”

“Got an appointment coming up in two weeks. Haven't heard anything one way or the other yet. I go every 6 months.”

“Not possible for me at the moment, I’m still in the “danger zone” for reoccurrence. So I have to have physical exams (just had one this AM with 2 biopsies) for now.”

“No telehealth but I do have an in office visit tomorrow for another skin cancer on my forehead.”

You can vote in the poll until May 3. Visit our Facebook page to weigh in!