Category Archives: Melanoma Newz

Latest breakthroughs and news in the Melanoma world.

01.27.13
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Scientist Grow Human Skin to Fight Skin Cancer

Scientists at the European Centre for the Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter’s Tremough campus have been researching a way to grow skin specifically to tackle Malignant Melanoma. They first announced their intent to grow human skin back in November 2012, saying that it would take at least 6 months or more to get the full clearance on their ground breaking research. Cancer research is often of single cells, but scientists at the Centre believe the best route would be to examine clusters of cells in contact with each other the way they naturally lie in the body.

They hope the research could help to identify people at risk, diagnose more effectively and understand how cancer cells break away from each other to form other tumors in the body.

cancer_cell

Malignant Melanoma is the most deadliest form of skin cancer. Anyone can get Melanoma. If found early melanoma is almost 100% curable. When allowed to grow, melanoma can quickly spread to other parts of the body.

The best ways to protect yourself from Melanoma and other skin cancers are to:

  • Conduct a monthly self skin check; watch for changes in moles and see a Dermatologist immediately if you notice any signs of skin cancer.
  • See a Dermatologist yearly, especially if you have pale skin, light-colored eyes, freckles or a history of skin cancer in your family.
  • Seek the shade during peak hours of the day between 10am-4pm
  • Wear SPF 30 sunscreen daily
  • Protect your eyes, neck, face with sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
  • Wear UV-protective clothing

 

 

 

12.20.12
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Give the Gift of Melanoma Awareness

Sometimes during the cold winter months of gift giving we let sun protection and melanoma awareness slip our minds. It’s during these non-summer months that we should think of it most and prepare for the sunny days ahead. It is only by advocating and showing support for melanoma research that we can ever imagine a world without melanoma. If you are having trouble buying a meaningful gift for someone who has been touched by melanoma either by a diagnosis or a passing–then please feel free to browse the websites below.

Help us to help others give the gift of melanoma awareness by sharing via Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. Also, if you know of any other places to purchase melanoma awareness gifts–please share in the comments!

Melanoma Awareness Gift Guide!

  • Bravelets feature the slogan “be brave” on their stylish and simple bracelets. $35 and under

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  • Project Hope sells a “hope cures” bracelet that with every purchase will donate $1 to the Uganda Child Cancer Foundation. $15

Melanoma_Awareness_hope cures

melanoma awareness gift basket

Etsy is also a great place to find handmade and original melanoma awareness and cancer support gifts. Big Bead Jewelry sells custom bracelets with $2 of proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society.  Kind Living Designs custom makes Pillow People that have been used to preserve the memory of a loved one that has passed away or as a keepsake for a family member that will be missed while serving in the military or away for long periods of time.

personalized pillow people for melanoma cancer

Knot Creations has taken the term survivor to another (awesome) level! You can purchase a paracord survival bracelet that can save your life and inspire at the same time!

melanoma survivor paracord bracelet

Gendrea makes handmade jewelry using swarovski crystals and gemstones.

Hope melanoma awareness necklace

There are many more handmade gifts you browse on the Etsy website. One of our favorites is unfortunately on vacation so I can’t feature Jilly’s Jems’ handmade gifts, but I can tell you more about a very special 2013 The Faces of Melanoma Calendar that you can purchase to help benefit melanoma awareness and to support Jillian’s fight against melanoma. If you are interested “like” Jilly’s Jems on Facebook or email jemsforjilly@gmail.com

This calendar is full of touching stories, tips and sun safe facts, as well as ways you can get involved in your community to help raise awareness! Check it out!

faces of melanoma calendar

 

11.20.12
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Australia Announces National Skin Cancer Action Week

National Skin Cancer Action Week began on the 18th and will continue through November 24th. Our neighbors ‘down under’ are urging men over 45-years-old to “watch your back.” Men are more likely to work outside, ignore health warnings and may have spent a lot of unprotected time outdoors as a child–before there were skin cancer awareness campaigns.

National Skin Cancer Action Week has the support of two former pro tennis players and skin cancer survivors, John Newcombe and Tony Roche.

After spending many hours in the sun during their tennis careers, Newcombe and Roche understand the importance of being sun-safe. They are teaching men two easy ways they can “watch their backs”:

  1. Always protect yourself in the sun; sunscreen, seeking shade, covering-up.
  2. Check your entire body and ask your partner to check your back and anywhere else you can’t see yourself.

“No matter what your age it’s never too late to reduce your risk and prevent further damage.”

With  one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world the Australian government has shown full support of Skin Cancer Action Week. They are committed to educating all ages on the importance of sun protection. Go Aussies!!

Check this out!

“Queensland Health’s revealing new app “Sun Effects Booth” allows  young people to see the future impact of sun damage and how they  will look if their sun safety habits don’t improve. You can find the free “Sun Effects Booth” App at the iTunes  store.   https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/sun-effects-booth-predict/id544510395

11.07.12
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1st Annual Piggy Puck Classic Melanoma Awareness Event

This past Saturday UV Skinz was able to be help support (through donations) the First Annual Piggy Puck Classic Legends Hockey game. This Melanoma awareness fundraiser hosted by the Glenna Kohl Fund for Hope took place on Saturday November 3, 2012. They had a  perfect turnout with approximately 300 guests attending that nights benefit! Spectators from all over the Cape gathered at the “Hyannis Youth and community Center in Barnstable  to watch the Boston Bruins’ Legends face-off against the Hyannis Fire Department and a few select Barnstable High School students and alumni. Legends included, Kenny Hodge, Bob Beers, Don Marcotte and Tim Sweeney.”

We were grateful to be able to provide educational materials, in the form of UV detector key chains, to be passed out freely to the attendees. The UV detector key chains are a fun easy way to monitor your daily UV exposure. When held out into the sun for ten seconds the middle of the key chain will turn color depending on the intensity of the sun’s rays. The darker the color the more intense the UV radiation.

Our UV protective clothing donations also brought a lot of excitement to the event! UV protective clothing is a worry free way to protect yourself against 98% of daily UV radiation. The UV protection is built into the fabric so there is no need to reapply and it won’t wash off. Clothing is the preferred choice of sun protection recommended by dermatologists.

Melanoma educational materials.

Raffle table with UV Skinz Ocean Camo Combo set, Pink rolled brim UV protective hat, and Cheryl Long-sleeve full zip.

Auction items to benefit the Glenna Kohl Foundation for Hope

Before the Piggy Puck Classic, the community and founder of the Glenna Kohl Fund for Hope were very excited for this event!!

“We are so excited to be hosting a different event this year,” said Colleen Kohl, Founder of the Glenna Kohl Fund for Hope. “Cape Cod Bruins fans will have the opportunity to watch some of the greatest hockey players of our time take on our own local heroes – all while raising awareness for a cause that is all too familiar within our community.”

“The Hyannis Fire Department is proud to get behind this community event and support such a remarkable local organization,” said Hyannis Fire Chief, Harold Brunelle. “We expect a phenomenal game. I hope the Legends are ready…. our guys are going to give them a run for their money.”

Ready to play for melanoma awareness!

The Glenna Kohl Foundation for Hope is a non-profit organization based in Barnstable, MA, whose mission is to raise awareness and find a cure for melanoma – the most dangerous form of skin cancer. The organization was founded to carry on Barnstable High School alumna, Glenna Kohl’s (“Piggy”), drive to save young men and women from this terrible disease. Glenna Kohl battled Melanoma from the age of 22 until the age of 26, when the disease took her life but not her spirit. You can read more about Glenna Kohl in this Cosmo Magazine article.

All funds collected from the Piggy Puck Classic Legends Hockey game fundraiser and other events benefit a melanoma research fund in Glenna’s name at the Massachusetts General hospital. The organization constructs and install shade canopies on lifeguard towers on Cape Cod beaches, install sunscreen dispensers and provide awareness material at Cape Cod beaches. They also offer support to other melanoma awareness organizations including scholarships and occasional financial support to community members experiencing this disease.

Glenna Kohl

Again, we were so honored to be apart of the First Annual Piggy Puck Classic and wish the Glenna Kohl Fund for Hope success in their future events for Melanoma Awareness!

10.29.12
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WWYD: Mom Forces Underage Daughter to Tan

The popular television show, What Would You Do, featured an interesting piece that showed a “tan” Mom practically forcing her daughter to tan at the BOCA Tanning Club on the east coast. The actors were each given a role to play. The teenage daughter was depicted as a fair-skinned, light-eyed, blonde girl while the Mother was unnaturally dark and tanned. The Mom continuously tried to force the girl into the tanning bed while onlookers watched and commented. The Mother could be heard saying such things like, “Look at you–you’re pasty white.”

These comments caught the attention of two young women waiting for their tanning session to begin. They came to the aid of the pale teenager–giving her compliments on her naturally fair skin and eyes. Another woman didn’t have a clue when she offered her words of encouragement, “It’s really relaxing in there.”

It wasn’t until an older woman was in the waiting area before her spray tan that the situation got serious. She openly admitted to being a skin cancer survivor. She showed the teenage girl her scar , with tears in her eyes, explaining that it was because of tanning beds that she developed skin cancer. The woman asks the tanning Mom what was more important; a healthy daughter or a tan daughter? Her last words were, “Your Mom needs a wake-up call.”

The closing message of the show was to learn before you burn. If only a former skin cancer or melanoma patient could sit in the waiting rooms of all tanning salons–then maybe young girls without the proper knowledge of the dangers of tanning salons would be persuaded to walk away.

You can watch the full episode here. Feel free to leave your comments and don’t hesitate to speak up if you are ever in a situation like this!