It Was Melanoma Monday, and I Didn't Even Realize ...

I saw my dermatologist on Monday for my regular skin check (every six months), and I didn't even realize that Monday, May 5, the day I went in, was "Melanoma Monday."

That's because my dermatologist didn't have the office draped in ribbons and banners to celebrate skin cancer the way my cancer center does in October, which is breast cancer awareness month.

I wasn't sure the exact name for this melanoma month, so I checked in with Carver, who has had melanoma, and sure enough it has several slightly different names:

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month but is also sometimes called Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness Month, probably because melanoma doesn't always originate on the skin.

Also I've seen in called Melanoma Awareness Month by melanoma groups but it's all skin cancers and all forms of melanoma (or that's what most campaigns cover). I double checked and the AAD calls it Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month

Melanoma Monday is always the first Monday in May ... and that was started by the American Academy of Dermatology to call attention to melanoma, and a lot of places have free skin cancer screenings on that day.

Black is the official color for melanoma. Some groups have tried to promote another color thinking that's grim, but black is the official one and most melanoma bracelets are black.

So get your black ribbons and bracelets, folks!

For more information: Melanoma Monday

To read more about skin cancer on this blog: Skin Cancer Click on the link and then scroll down.

My dermatologist did think one mole, on the back of my left leg, was suspicious, but rather than do the punch biopsy he decided to go straight to the wide excision, given my melanoma history. So I have to make an appointment to go back in and have that done.

I'd better call this morning and set that up. Too many medical appointments again lately. They make me anxious. Also take up too much time. Sigh. That's life with cancer.

@ Jeanne Sather 2008.

Comments

[Carver]

I know you must feel like its always just one more thing. I how you can get this one behind you and it will be a benign issue. Take care, Carver

[katieask]

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March and am midst treatment for that. But meanwhile, back at the ranch, a 3rd sibling has come up with melanoma - treated and now fine. I really am having a very hard time finding a dermatologist in Seattle - could you please share the name of yours?

Freckle-y yours,
Katie

[jeanne]

Katie--I still love my freckles, but ...

I sent you an e-mail with this information.

Jeanne