Saving Lives Is Sexy
- Screening for skin cancer is vital. When skin cancer is found early there is a dramatically better chance for excellent prognosis. Some skin cancer can appear in places which are hidden, such as around the genitals, or places otherwise harder to detect.
- Nonprofit organization F Cancer is taking intimacy to another level with “Serious Foreplay,” an edgy new campaign to help promote intimate skin checks between partners for any potential changes that could indicate melanoma.
- When checking your skin or your partner’s remember ABCDE, for asymmetrical moles, borders that may be irregular, colors that may vary, a diameter larger than a pencil eraser, and evolution: Has the mole’s color, shape, or size changed over time?
Scott Moody, director of community and public relations at The Variable agency who took on the work pro bono noted that “it’s a heck of a lot easier to check your skin when you don’t have clothes on,” hence the romantic element.
Read MoreLike most cancers, melanoma is easiest to treat when caught at an early stage.
The new campaign even came out with its own suggestion cards featuring illustrations of named sexual poses on how to perform the exam, like “Spread Awareness Eagle,” as noted on PRweek.com and displayed on the organization’s @letsfcancer Instagram page.
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“Not checking for moles doesn’t fly around here! Have your partner lie on their back and lift their legs,” the card reads. “You may not be into feet, but be sure to check between their toes for suspicious moles.”
In one of the campaign’s videos, a man looks like he is about to give another man oral sex, then says, “Oh, wow. That is a huge… ”
“—mole,” a doctor says, interrupting.
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Moody explained that the organization’s plan of attack is “challenging norms to elevate cancer awareness.”
Dr. Carlton Thomas and sexual health expert Danielle Bezalel signed on to help promote the campy campaign.
Learning More About Melanoma
Melanoma 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.
Real Housewives alum Teddi Mellencamp, daughter of John Mellencamp, has had over a dozen surgeries to remove her melanomas, and continuously keeps her fans updated on her journey to raise more awareness on the dangers of the sun and what to look for on your body.
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.
WATCH: How do you perform a skin check using the ABCDEs?
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.
What Are the Symptoms of Melanoma?
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.
‘He Chose to Be There for Me’ — Getting the Support You Need During Treatment
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 some of the following to help you on your cancer journey.
- What type of skin cancer do I have?
- What treatment options exist for my type of melanoma?
- Will insurance cover this treatment?
- Would treatment through a clinical trial make sense for me?
- What resources exist to help manage my anxiety because of this diagnosis?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.