During Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Coolibar invites skin cancer survivors to share their stories with us in their own words. The ins and outs of treatment can be intense and not necessarily a fun thing to read; however hope, determination and drive to educate others play a major role in these individuals’ lives. Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate, it can happen to anyone. Prevention and early detection can be life saving! We hope you share these stories with your friends, family and colleagues. Be SunAWARE this month the all year round. Read Sam’s story.

Some stories are so powerful they need to be retold. This blog was written by Dr. Jessica Sparks Lilley, a pediatrician who learned the hard way that the risks of getting melanoma from using a tanning bed are real! Please do not use tanning beds. Please do not allow your children to use tanning beds. Help pass legislation to ban the use of tanning beds by minors.

If you had the resources to tell hundreds of thousands of people around the world about skin cancer and prevention would you? Director and Cinematographer Stan Kozma did and decided to take action. All is revealed about skin cancer and melanoma in his film “More Than Skin Deep: Skin Cancer in America”. This landmark film has so many elements that we decided to speak with Stan and get the reasoning behind his creation of the film.

Duane Braswell is a recent skin cancer survivor whom is thankful for many things this holiday season. After being diagnosed with both basal cell carcinoma and melanoma in August 2011 and having it successfully excised, he came to the conclusion that there is not enough awareness around the dangers of skin cancer. With the support of his family, friends and outside donors, Duane has arranged to complete a 2,500 bike circuit starting in Phoenix, AZ and ending in Washington, DC to raise money for awareness and further research into skin cancer.

On May 20, 2011, the Stay Out of the Sun Run (SOSR) Foundation held their annual walk/race in Rochester, MN that promotes awareness of the dangers of sun exposure and supports melanoma research and education. All proceeds from the SOSR are donated to the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center for melanoma research and education. Coolibar was there to participate in this event for the 5th year in a row.

The fourth story in our series on Skin Cancer Survivors for Melanoma Month. Our survivors have shared their personal stories to remind us of the importance of being SunAWARE. Cindy was 48 when she found a suspicious spot of skin on her nose. It was diagnosed as that ended up being Basal Cell Carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer, affecting approximately two million Americans each year.

The third story in our series on Skin Cancer Survivors for Melanoma Month. Our survivors have shared their personal stories to remind us of the importance of being SunAWARE. In 2007, Tim went to a Mayo Clinic dermatologist to have a mole on his left arm looked at. The doctor removed it right away so it could be tested. A few years prior, Tim had this same mole tested, and it was fine. But this time, the biopsy showed that the mole had turned into Melanoma.

The second story in our series on Skin Cancer Survivors for Melanoma Month. Our survivors have shared their personal stories to remind us of the importance of being SunAWARE. In 2009, Jessi went to a dermatologist to have a freckle removed. A week later, Jessi received a call from her doctor and was told she had Melanoma …

During May, Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Coolibar will feature a series on Skin Cancer Survivors. Our survivors have shared their personal stories to remind us of the importance of being SunAWARE. Carol was in her early 30s when she found a freckle on her face that appeared abnormal…

It’s not fair that anyone should have to deal with something as life altering as melanoma, especially a 6-year-old. Rachael was only 5 when she was diagnosed with stage III melanoma. After a year of battling and conquering melanoma, Rachael and her family know all too well why sun protection is important.