Each May, Skin Cancer Awareness Month serves as a reminder that the most common cancer in the United States is also one of the most preventable, and that early detection saves lives. This year, we are honored to share a story from Sarah, a Vaya Health team member.
A Picture Worth More Than a Thousand Words
Sarah’s grandfather is 91 years old. Affectionately nicknamed Big Papa, he lived through the Great Depression, served in World War II, raised two children, helped raise six grandchildren, and welcomed eleven great-grandchildren into the family.
A while back, Sarah’s grandfather finally got to hold his newest great-grandbabies, twin boys. Sarah took a photo of the moment – three generations, one frame. She posted it to Instagram so family and friends she doesn’t get to see often could share in the special day.
That photo did something none of them expected: it saved his life.
A Message from a Former Classmate
A former classmate of Sarah’s, who is now a physician, saw the picture in her Instagram feed and noticed something on Sarah’s grandfather’s forehead that the family had long assumed was a “sun mark” from years on the lakes of Michigan. To her medical eye, it didn’t look like a sun spot. It looked like melanoma.
The friend reached out to Sarah privately. With her help, the family was able to get Sarah’s grandfather in front of clinicians who confirmed the diagnosis: melanoma.
For a man who had already survived prostate cancer, two heart attacks, and the loss of his wife to ovarian cancer, the words “skin cancer” were not easy ones to hear. But with the support of his family, he pursued treatment, and doctors removed the melanoma in full.
Today, Sarah’s grandfather is still here, still telling stories, still showing off the photo of his twin great-grandchildren. And Sarah is still grateful that someone she had not seen in years took a second look at a picture on the internet.
You can read Sarah’s full account on the American Academy of Dermatology’s website, and read TODAY’s coverage of Sarah’s story.
Why This Story Matters
The outcome for Sarah’s grandfather was fortunate. Many people never get the message from a friend, never get the second opinion, never look twice at the spot they’ve stopped seeing. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and melanoma, the most serious form, is highly treatable when caught early.
The AAD encourages everyone to know the ABCDEs of melanoma
- Asymmetry — one half of the spot doesn’t match the other
- Border — edges that are irregular, ragged, or blurred
- Color — uneven shades of brown, black, tan, red, white, or blue
- Diameter — larger than the size of a pencil eraser (though melanomas can be smaller)
- Evolving — any spot that is changing in size, shape, or color
Other resources for learning how to check your skin and find a dermatologist include:
- How to perform a skin self-exam (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Free skin cancer screenings near you (AAD SPOTme® program)
- Find a board-certified dermatologist
If you notice a spot that is new, changing, or simply doesn’t look like the rest of your skin, contact a dermatologist. Don’t wait.
What Sarah’s Story Reminds Us
Stories like this one are a reminder of how much can hinge on a single moment of attention. This May, we encourage you to take a few minutes to check your own skin. Early detection is one of the most powerful tools we have against skin cancer, and it starts with paying attention.
