MLB Legend & Melanoma Survivor Mike Schmidt, 76, Advocates Sun Protection & Skin Cancer Awareness Among Baseball Youth Players in Philadelphia

“Our mission here in Philadelphia is to stop skin cancer. The one way to do that is start with the kids at a young age,” Schmidt said.

“For them to develop the right habits to skin care and one for sure is sunscreen. One is covering your body when you’re in the sun, trying to limit the time you spend in the sun.”

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He continued, “For me, I’m on a journey right now still from 2013. It started with melanoma and I’m still tending to it on a daily basis.

“I don’t want any of these kids to have to do that.”

Schmidt expressed profound gratitude for everything he has today, saying his “life was spared.”

“I got to move on, got a major increased appreciation for life and love and the people around me. It could have gone totally the opposite direction,” he said.

“Melanoma is a very, very serious disease. And 30 years ago people died from it. Now, if you catch it early, you know, you can be cured. And we just don’t want people to get melanoma or skin cancer.”

Schmidt’s Melanoma Journey

Sharing his story in a recent interview on the podcast Hittin’ Season’s with John Stolnis, aSchmidt offered insight into his 2013 diagnosis of stage three melanoma.

He explained, “I was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma with a mole on my back, and it had metastasized and got into my lymph system, into my lungs, into my brain. It started an entire new life for me and my family, of course.

“Chemotherapy, radiation, that whole process probably went for about three years. I’m still taking a lot of meds, still getting CT scans, brain MRIs. Still … have to stay on top of that.”

After acknowledging that he understands the cancer could potentially return, he shared that he’s since joined the Richard David Kahn Melanoma Foundation to share his cancer story and raise skin cancer awareness.

Schmidt continued, “It [the foundation] gave me a chance to tell my story … to give back and talk to kids and adults about the dangers of the sun’s rays, try to convince kids and adults that they need to wear protection when they’re out.

“We were doing it pretty strong for like two or three years, and then we decided to bring it up to Philadelphia. And I started a 501c3 [non-profit organization], the Mike Schmidt Initiative [a skin cancer prevention initiative aimed at promoting sun safety].

The former MLB third baseman, who played all 18 seasons of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1972 to 1989, then noted how he tries to consistently encourage youth baseball players to use sunscreen.

Adding how he also wants their parents to be aware, Schmidt, who admitted to never wearing sunscreen in his youth, added, “They need to make sure the kids put sunscreen on. They need to make sure the kids maybe carry sunscreen in their equipment bags … show them how to put it on, maybe wear a couple of sleeves on their arms.

“A lot of major league players are wearing sleeves now, professional golfers as well. Just a newfound respect for the sun.”

Skin Cancer: What To Look For?

You should check your body for unusual spots or moles at least once a month. Any new spots or changes in size or color demand your attention.

Changes to a mole you’ve had for a while or a new growth on your skin could be signs of melanoma, according to SurvivorNet’s experts. Though these marks are unlikely to be cancerous, you’ll want to keep an eye on them and inform your doctor about any changes you notice.

WATCH: When checking for melanoma, remember your ABCDEs

Melanoma is most likely to develop on sun-exposed skin, such as the face, neck, arms, and legs. Surprisingly, it might also develop in places that have never been exposed to the sun, such as the palms of your hands or soles of your feet, your eyes or mouth, or under your nails.

SurvivorNet experts describe melanoma symptoms as:

• A sore that doesn’t heal
• Color that spreads from the border of a spot to the skin around it
• Redness or swelling that goes beyond the area of a mole.
• Itchiness, tenderness, or pain
• A change in the way the surface of a mole looks.
• Scaliness, oozing, or blood

Tips to Protect Your Skin from Skin Cancer

As many of us enjoy spending lots of time in the sun during the spring and summer, we must remember that the sun can harm us. For most people, there are simple ways to significantly reduce their risk of developing skin cancer.

Dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman offers five ways to protect your skin from cancer. Most of her recommendations are simple to follow and could save your life.

WATCH: How to protect your skin from skin cancer.

Her simple tips include:

• Avoid the sun during peak hours, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you are outside during those hours, protect yourself from harmful sun rays.
• Cover your skin and eyes. A wide-brim hat and sunglasses will protect your face, the top of your head, your ears, and the delicate skin around your eyes.
• Wear an SPF of 30 or higher. Dr. Engelman also recommends reapplying every few hours or after excessive sweating or swimming.
• Get an annual skin check. You can check your skin for anything that looks out of the ordinary, but you should still get a yearly check to ensure you don’t miss anything. If you notice anything unusual between checks, schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor.
• Avoid tanning beds.

If you feel like you’re just too pale, Dr. Engelman recommends a sunless tanner. “There’s absolutely no benefit to going to a tanning bed,” Dr. Engelman said.

People with Darker Skin Complexions Also Face Skin Cancer Risks

A rare form of melanoma called acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) impacted Bob Marley. According to research published in the medical journal Neoplasia, acral melanoma “arises on the non-hair-bearing skin of the nail bed, palms of the hand and soles of the feet” and is not linked to sun ultraviolet (UV) light like other skin cancers.

This rare subtype of melanoma is more common among people of Black, Hispanic/Latin, and Asian descent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Non-Hispanic Black people are often diagnosed with melanoma at later stages, and the predominant histologic types of melanomas that occur in non-Hispanic Black people have poorer survival rates than the most common types among non-Hispanic white people.

How to Chose the Best Sunscreen

When it comes to choosing sunscreen, there are a few factors you should be aware of, so that you’re able to choose the one that is best for you.

Dermatologic surgeon Dr. Snehal Amin offered tips in an earlier interview about how to pick a sunscreen.

“My recommendation is really focus on the ingredients rather than the brands,” he explained “If you like the way the brand feels on your skin, if you like the purpose of the brand– for instance, sport versus daily use or daytime use versus a short burst of activity use– I think those are more important factors than actual brands.”

Choose the Right Sunscreen and Use it Often

“When I’m using sunscreens on my younger kids, I recommend Neutrogena Free and Clear Stick, which is a zinc and titanium-based sunscreen. It doesn’t have chemical sunscreens,” says Dr. Amin.

“It’s a little greasier, but my kids tend not to mind that particular aspect of the sunscreen. If I’m doing a sports activity outside– for instance, surfing or kite surfing– I make sure that I use a sports-based sunscreen, and there’s a lot of sports-based sunscreens that I could mention.”

Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a dermatologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, recommends you use no less than SPF 30 and reapply it every two hours. Your sunscreen should also be broad spectrum, says Dr. Larocca, meaning it covers both UVB and UVA rays.

According to Dr. Larocca, people usually only get about 50% of the SPF on the label. So, if you’re using SPF 60, you’re really getting closer 30 SPF of protection. To make sure you’re getting the right protection, she also recommends using sunscreen every two hours and wearing protective clothing, such as a hat and sunglasses.

Which Sunscreen Should I Choose To Prevent Cancer?

According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, you should:

• Avoid sun exposure during peak hours when the sun’s rays are strongest, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going outside
• Use at least SPF 30 broad spectrum sunblock and reapply every 2 hours when outdoors

Following these guidelines will help reduce your risk of skin damage and future skin cancer.

Understanding Melanoma

Melanoma, as Schmidt had, is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. In melanoma, the cells change in a way that allows them to spread to other organs.

Changes to a mole you’ve had for a while or a new growth on your skin could be signs of melanoma, according to SurvivorNet’s experts. You’ll want to watch them and tell your doctor about any changes you notice.

You’re most likely to find melanoma on sun-exposed skin areas like your face, neck, arms, and legs. Surprisingly, you might also find them in other places as well, like:

• The palms of your hands or soles of your feet
• On your eyes or mouth
• Under your nails

SurvivorNet experts recommend avoiding unprotected sun exposure because ultraviolet (UV) radiation can lead to melanoma. Tanning beds pose ultraviolet radiation risks for skin cancer and should be avoided. Many dermatologists recommend using spray tans to reduce the risk of melanoma skin cancer.

The most important thing to look out for when it comes to finding melanoma is a new spot on your skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color, SurvivorNet’s medical experts say.

When you check your skin, use the acronym ABCDE as your guide:

• Asymmetrical moles: If you drew a line straight down the center of the mole, would the sides match?
• Borders: Is the mole irregular or jagged?
• Colors: Are there multiple distinct colors in the mole?
• Diameter: Is the mole larger than 6 millimeters (mm), about the size of a pencil head eraser?
• Evolution: Has the mole’s color, shape, or size changed over time?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, our experts say it’s time to see your dermatologist for a skin check.

Treating Melanoma

With breakthrough treatments like targeted therapy and immunotherapy now available, people diagnosed today with melanoma have a much better chance of living a long and healthy life than ever before.

The American Cancer Society says the five-year survival rate for localized melanoma that has not spread is 99%. The five-year survival rate for melanoma that has spread to other body parts drops to 71% for regional spread and 32% for distant spread.

If you’re diagnosed with melanoma, there’s a good chance surgery will be the treatment your doctor recommends. Cancer removal usually leads to a cure in the early stages of the disease.

Mohs surgery might be an option for an early-stage melanoma close to the skin surface. This technique removes skin cancer, layer by layer until all the cancer is gone.

Stage 1 melanoma surgery consists of simple, in-office removal of the cancerous cells by a dermatologist. If the cancer is thicker, your surgeon will remove it through a technique called wide excision surgery.

Stage 2 and stage 3 melanoma surgeries are performed by surgeons or surgical oncologists, not dermatologists. You may also have a sentinel lymph node biopsy to see if the melanoma has spread to the first lymph node where it’s most likely to travel. If your cancer has reached this first lymph node, it may have spread to other neighboring lymph nodes and organs.

After surgery, the removed tissue and lymph nodes are examined to measure the melanoma and determine if it has clear margins. Clear margins mean the cells around the area of tissue that was removed don’t contain any melanoma. When no cancer cells are left around the removed area, your cancer is less likely to return.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, you may have some questions for your doctor. SurvivorNet suggests the following to help you on your cancer journey.

• What type of skin cancer do I have?
• What treatment options exist for my specific cancer?
• Will insurance cover this treatment?
• Would treatment through a clinical trial make sense to me?
• What resources exist to help manage my anxiety because of this diagnosis

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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