Learning about Melanoma
- Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix is keeping busy after surviving melanoma in 2018. She recently wrote “season 10 on its way” in an Instagram caption with a couple of her fellow castmates as a tease for the show’s upcoming season.
- Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair and eyes their color. Ninety percent of melanomas are caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun, so it's important to protect your skin with things like sunscreen and clothing.
- Paying attention to moles or growths on your skin is an easy way to look out for melanoma since changes to a mole you've had for a while or developing a new growth you don't remembering having on your skin could be signs of of this cancer, according to SurvivorNet's experts.
Madix is best known for her recurring appearance as a cast member of the Bravo reality television series Vanderpump Rules. And in her most recent post to Instagram, she makes a clear point to reference the show’s upcoming tenth season.
Read MoreView this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
In another recent post, Madix shared photos from BravoCon “a 3-day event designed for the Bravosphere, where Bravoholics can come together to celebrate their fandom, while also sipping the hottest Bravolebrity tea” were she rocked a killer brown jumpsuit with cutouts that showcased her toned abs.
View this post on Instagram
“tonight on @bravotv @bravowwhl it's charming house rules!” she wrote in her caption from October 20. “#pumprules #southerncharm #summerhouse”
Regardless of where her career takes her, it’s delightful to see the cancer survivor staying busy and excited for the future after a melanoma battle came her way just some years ago.
Ariana Madix’s Cancer Journey
Ariana Madix was diagnosed with stage one melanoma in 2018 after years of raising concerns with various medical professionals about a spot near her shoulder.
"It was not the first time that I had asked a doctor about my spot, but it was the first time I could afford to see a dermatologist," Madix, a cancer advocate, said in an exclusive interview with SurvivorNet.
Time and time again, she was told her mole was “probably nothing” before getting her diagnosis. And the reason she didn’t see a specialist for so long was because she didn’t have health insurance.
"The idea of, 'Oh, go get something checked [with a specialist]' was not something that I could have shelled out a couple hundred bucks on," she said.
In the end, it was actually fans of Vanderpump Rules that really pushed Madix to see a specialist once she could afford it.
"I had people who were watching the show who were sliding into my DMs and who were like, 'You might want to get that looked at. I'm a dermatologist in Michigan and this troubles me,’" Madix said. "That kind of added to my suspicions."
Treatment for Madix consisted of surgery to remove her cancer as well as some surrounding lymph nodes. When melanoma spreads, it's more likely to travel to nearby lymph nodes first. And a sentinel node is the first lymph node to which the cancer is likely to spread. A biopsy of this node carries important information related to the staging and prognosis of melanoma.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Provides Extra Precaution
Today, Madix remains cancer-free today and insists on living life the fullest. Hopefully, her cancer story will serve as a reminder for others to take care of their skin and understand the severity of a melanoma diagnosis.
"I really just want people to pay attention and to take it seriously," Madix said. "Know that your skin is the largest organ in your body and it's exposed to more things than most. It's not just do I have a zit? There's a lot more to it important sh*t that could make or break your life."
Understanding Ariana Madix’s Type Of Cancer: Melanoma
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair and eyes their color. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 99,780 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the United States in 2022.
And while the ACS says the risk of melanoma increases as people age with the average age of diagnosis being 65, the disease is not uncommon among those younger than 30. In fact, it's one of the most common cancers in young adults (especially young women).
The disease can develop from an existing mole or appear as a dark or pink growth on the skin even in places on the body that never see the sun. It's also known to be the deadliest form of skin cancer.
"Melanomas are the deadliest type of skin cancer because they have a tendency to spread to other parts of the body," explains Dr. Anna Pavlick, a medical oncologist with Weill Cornell Medicine who specializes in treating skin cancer.
Paying Attention to Your Skin
Keeping an eye on the moles or growths on your skin is an easy way to keep an eye out for melanoma. Changes to a mole you've had for a while or developing a new growth you don't remembering having on your skin could be signs of this cancer, according to SurvivorNet's experts.
Examining Your Skin for Melanoma Remember ABCDE
Dr. Cecilia Larocca of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute gives SurvivorNet an overview of things to look out for with moles using the ABCDE self-screening method:
- Asymmetrical moles: "If you drew a line straight down the center of the mole, would the sides match?"
- Borders that are "irregular, jagged, not smooth." It can also stand for bleeding.
- Colors: "Multiple distinct colors in the mole."
- Diameter: "Larger than 6mm, about the size of a pencil head eraser."
- Evolution: "This may be the most important," she says. "Anything that is changing over time such as gaining color, losing color, painful, itching, hurting, changing shape, etc."
Spots on our skin are often harmless, but it's still important to keep an eye on them and reach out to your doctor if you see any changes or find a growth anywhere on your skin that looks suspicious.
Protecting Yourself from Melanoma
Ninety percent of melanomas are caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. This means excessive time in the sun even as a child puts you at a higher risk.
Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Dendy Engelman from MDCS Dermatology in New York shared the top five things you can do to avoid skin cancer:
- Avoid sun during peak hours, which is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect the tops of our heads, the tops of our ears and the delicate area around the eye.
- Wear at least SPF 30 sunscreen and make sure to reapply every two hours or after excessive sweating or swimming.
- Have yearly skin checks (with a professional), because it's difficult to evaluate areas all over the body.
- Avoid tanning beds. There are no "good" tanning beds, and they can significantly increase your risk of melanoma.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.