Sun Safety & Tips for New Melanoma Community Members

Through my Melanoma journey, I learned what it meant for our skin to be our largest organ. We only get one shot at this life, so we have to take care of our bodies and our skin. For both skin cancer community members and those who just want to be more mindful, here are some sun safety tips.

Sun safety needs to become a part of your daily routine. We all have them. Waking up in the morning, washing your face, brushing your teeth, eating breakfast, etc. After having Melanoma, I’ve programmed sun safety to be a part of my daily routine. Was it an easy, eye-roll-free transition? Of course not, change can be hard. But when the change is good and positive, it’s worth it.

My main sun safety tips are: 

• Wear sunscreen every day, even on days that you don’t think you need it. Even if you’re indoors, if you work next to a window, you likely still need sunscreen.
• What’s the best sunscreen? The one you remember to put on every day, ideally SPF 30 or higher. Find one that works for you and your skin type. 
• The summer brings the highest UV rays, and depending on where you are in the world, you have different phases of high UV throughout the year. If you have to be outside during the sunniest parts of the day, seek shade as much as possible. 
• Wear a hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing when outside. Reapply sunscreen every two hours if sweating or swimming. If sunscreen is difficult to remember / uncomfortable to apply for you, invest in as much protective clothing as possible. 
• Aim to have at least one yearly skin check at your dermatologist. If you have a family history of skin cancer, you might need to be checked even more frequently. 

Having Melanoma taught me to embrace who I am. For so much of my life, I chased an extremely damaging beauty standard. I only felt beautiful when I was tan, and would do anything to achieve that. It was stupid. I was trying to fill this hole that was much deeper than my skin color. There were other things I needed to reflect on, things I eventually processed in therapy. It’s unfortunate that it took having Melanoma for me to learn that, but I believe that everything happens for a reason. There’s a reason why I went through this and am alive today to share my story with others. 

I’ve impacted so many people by sharing my Melanoma story online. People will message me and say “Because of you sharing your story, I now wear sunscreen. Because of you sharing your dad’s story, I got a skin check, and they removed a cancerous mole. Because of your stories, I seek shade when I’m outside and wear protective clothing.” There are people watching and listening.

Newly diagnosed people will also ask me where to begin. “I was just diagnosed with Melanoma and I’m afraid to go outside.” That’s the real fear with Melanoma. We can’t escape the sun, we have to go outside eventually. People have to go to work, take their kids places, and generally function in society.

As I near five years cancer-free this fall, I feel like I have done a lot of work on myself. I’ve lived in this survivorship long enough to provide support and encouragement to those who need it. I’m able to provide what I needed and longed for when I entered this community five years ago. Because of my Melanoma diagnosis, I’m able to be a light for somebody else. That means the world to me.

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with Melanoma, just know that you’re not alone. There are hundreds of thousands of people who have been in your shoes, whether that’s a Stage 0 or Stage IV diagnosis or anywhere in between. You’re stronger than you think you are. 

Whenever people get a cancer diagnosis, they feel very defeated, scared, alone, and vulnerable. Those are valid, real emotions. But with time, you’ll find the strength you need to pull through. Mental, emotional, physical, spiritual strength. Once you find that strength, you will also find people you can connect with in our skin cancer community. 

I encourage anyone newly diagnosed to reach out to Melanoma and other skin cancer organizations. Find people on social media, social media has connected me with so many amazing melanoma survivors and fighters. We have such an easy tool at our fingertips, use it. If you have the courage to reach out, do so. It may feel uncomfortable, but it can truly be life-saving to connect with people who truly understand.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.