Melanoma awareness saves lives. As summer ends, its time to check your skin | Opinion

In the age of personalized health care, bad news can find us when we least expect it. For me, getting diagnosed with a Melanoma came as a nondescript email as I sat in the kitchen chatting with my wife and a friend. To see my name next to a pathology result reading “Invasive Melanoma,” was the equivalent of seeing a ghost.

Knowledge can compound fear, and, as a physician, I possessed just enough information about Melanoma to make my mind do summersaults. From medical school, I knew that Melanoma is a particularly dangerous form of skin cancer that starts within pigmented cells in our skin called melanocytes. While other forms of skin cancer grow more superficially, Melanoma behaves aggressively and has the potential to spread to other parts of the body if not caught early.

According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 104,000 individuals are diagnosed with Melanoma annually, and about 8,400 people die each year from advanced forms of the disease. The recent death of celebrity singer Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband, Brandon Blackstone, highlights the risk associated with Melanoma.

In my case, a combination of genetics and environmental factors likely contributed to my risk of Melanoma and ultimate diagnosis. Growing up in Sacramento, one of the sunniest cities in the United States during the summer, provided ample exposure to ultraviolet light and severe sunburns — both of which are significant risk factors for Melanoma.

While people with lighter skin and eyes are more vulnerable to sun exposure and UV damage, individuals of all races and skin colors can be impacted and should be mindful of the risk associated with excessive sun exposure.

I had known for years that I should be checking my skin regularly given my risk factors. Despite this knowledge, I had neglected my annual skin checks and had not seen a dermatologist for some time. Fortunately, a chance meeting with a long-lost middle school classmate (who, incidentally, had also been diagnosed with Melanoma) was the impetus I needed to make an appointment and get checked.

For those wondering what to look for, Melanomas can appear as a new or changing skin lesion. Dermatologist often recommend watching for the ABCDE’s of Melanoma, which include asymmetry, irregular borders, color changes, diameter (greater than six millimeters) and evolution over time. Any mole or skin lesion exhibiting these properties should be evaluated by a health care professional as soon as possible.

Fortunately, my Melanoma was caught early and at a point where treatment could be curative with a wide margin excision of tissue around the melanoma. Moving forward, I will be monitored every three months to ensure new Melanomas are not missed. I have accepted that my relationship with the sun has fundamentally changed. This means ample sunscreen, wide brimmed hats and swimwear with UV coverage for my upper body. The risk is simply too high to carry on differently.

So, as another sweltering summer in Sacramento ends and swimsuits are packed away, I challenge you to look at your skin. Whether you have a neglected mole that needs checked or a new lesion that just doesn’t seem right, the decision to take your skin care seriously can be lifesaving.

Dr. Justin Gettings, a proud native of Sacramento, is an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds joint appointments in the Departments of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine.