Protect. Detect. Connect

 In 2013, my mom was diagnosed with melanoma. What followed was a nearly ten-year battle with cancer that changed our entire family. Watching someone you love fight for their life teaches you that skin cancer isn't "just skin cancer." It is a disease that can affect every part of a family's future.

After losing my mom, I became even more diligent about protecting my own skin. I avoided tanning beds, wore sunscreen, covered up in the sun, and made annual skin exams a priority because I knew I was at higher risk.

Then, in 2026, despite all of those precautions, a routine skin check changed my life. I was diagnosed with Stage 0 melanoma (melanoma in situ). Because it was caught early, it was completely removed before it had the chance to spread. Early detection made all the difference.

My family's story reminds me that prevention and early detection matter. While we can't eliminate every risk, we can give ourselves the best possible chance through simple, consistent habits.

That's why I encourage everyone to follow these three steps:

Protect. Wear sunscreen every day, seek shade, wear protective clothing, and make sun safety part of your routine.

Detect. Perform monthly self-exams, schedule regular skin checks with a dermatologist, and never ignore a changing spot. Finding melanoma early saves lives.

Connect. Share your story, encourage friends and family to get checked, support those facing a diagnosis, and help spread awareness. A simple conversation can inspire someone to schedule the appointment that changes everything.

It can be as simple as sharing a #SunSafeSelfie in your favorite sun-safe gear! You can help normalize healthy habits, start conversations about skin cancer prevention, and remind others that protecting your skin is something worth celebrating.

My mom's story inspired me to take skin cancer seriously. My own story reminds me why that decision mattered. I hope that by sharing both, I can encourage others to protect themselves, detect skin cancer early, and connect with a community that believes awareness truly saves lives.