Central Illinois skin cancer survivors urge early screenings, sun protection all year long (2024)

BLOOMINGTON — With summer on the horizon, Central Illinois residents will be venturing outside more to enjoy the weather. But experts and patients are reminding people to be mindful and take precautions from the sun's ultraviolet radiation.

For Leah Goforth, 47, of Peoria, skin cancer has been a prevalent issue for her family for years.

"I always tell people that cancer and oncology is both in my personal and my professional life," said Goforth, a manager in the gynecological oncology division at OSF Medical Group in Peoria. "It's always been a passion since college, and then personally, with multiple family members that have had cancer in the past and are currently battling cancer."

Goforth's father is a survivor of melanoma — a form of skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes, which make the pigment that gives skin its color — since 2017. In 2019, Goforth found a mole around her knee that at first appeared to be nothing serious.

Goforth said she was getting ready for knee surgery on a torn meniscus at the time. Her dermatologist told her the mole looked OK, but that they should remove it because of her family's medical history.

It wasn't until shortly after it was removedthatshe received a call from her physician telling her that the small mole had in fact been melanoma.

"I just remember vividly wondering that this is fake, this is a dream, there is no way this happening again in my family, and I was just frozen," Goforth said. "But then I sprang right into action and started to get appointments set up and meet with a specialist."

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, bringing a timely reminder of the dangers of skin cancer and the importance of prevention, early detection and treatment.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States, making it the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the country.

Skin cancer forms when an abnormal growth of skin cells develops on the skin's surface, usually appearing as sores that do not heal or as changes in moles. It is most often caused by overexposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or other sources, including indoor tanning beds and sun lamps.

Types of skin cancer include basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are the two most common forms of skin cancer but are highly treatable if detected early and treated properly.

Melanoma isa more aggressive form of skin cancer and has the potential to spread to other organs and tissues in the body if not detected and treated early.

Although any cancer has the potential to become serious if not addressed, melanoma accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers and is responsible for the large majority of skin cancer deaths, according to the ACS.

"Early steps that are good to take into account include wearing hats, sunglasses, long-sleeve shirts and pants to protect yourself from the sun, but also wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher," said Natalie Jordan, a family nurse practitioner for OSF HealthCare in Normal. "A lot of farmers and construction workers already have that darker complexion from being outside for a majority of their days, and they might think they don't need protection, but really everyone does."

Jordan said she normally asks patients about family history of skin cancer before checking areas where skin is commonly exposed to sunlight, like the arms, head, ears and neck. Then she looks for spots that seem irregular or different than other spots.

Early detection is key, Jordan said, and it's in patents' best interest to get a second opinion from a specialist like a dermatologist to determine if any spots are serious and need to be removed.

Jordan said she has learned a lot about skin cancer personally through her father-in-law, who has had several procedures done to remove different spots around his body.

"He was always good with protecting himself, wearing the correct clothing, and he was still diagnosed with skin cancer," Jordan said. "It's been very eye-opening for me, because it is so prevalent and it can really happen to anyone, even if they are careful."

Dr. Colby Carr, a family physician for Carle Health in El Paso, shared similar thoughts, adding that people should not be afraid to ask questions or have a spot checked out by their primary care physician whenever they have concerns.

The longer people wait on early detection and diagnosis, the more likely it is for the skin cancer to develop further and potentially become a bigger issue, Carr said.

Depending on a person's risk, doctors may recommend more frequent skin checks. It may even be helpful to have aspouse, partner, family member or close friend examine hard-to-see areas like the back or scalp, Carr said.

"When in doubt, check it out," Carr said. "Early screenings are key, along with prevention, and people should look out for any changes in their skin or any lesions that are new or changing."

Elise Albers, associate director of cancer center partnerships with the American Cancer Society, saidthe organization provides transportation services and lodging accommodations to patients who are going through cancer treatment.They also host annual Relay for Life events to raise money for research and patient care programs. In Bloomington-Normal, this year's event will take place June 29 at Heartland Community College.

Albers said it is important to promote cancer screenings, especially self-checks, for anyone concerned with skin cancer. The ACS works with area hospitals to educate people on what to look for, especially for those who are younger and may think they are less susceptible to skin cancer.

According to the ACS, the risk of melanoma increases as people age, with 66 being the average age at diagnosis — but melanoma is not uncommon among people younger than 30. In fact, it is one of the most common cancers in young people, especially young women.

"We are always promoting cancer screenings for all ages, because people may not know they have a spot that is cancerous and canlead to something more serious," Albers said.

Taylor Hillery, 29, of El Paso, said she found a dark area on her thigh in January. Knowing that her grandmother had melanoma, she immediately called her physician, Dr. Kellie DeWitt, at the Carle Health office in El Paso.

She had a biopsy, and it came back positive for an early stage of melanoma. She worked with a surgeon to remove the area before it progressed any further and has now been getting checked every three months.

"I didn't think it would come back as that, especially being my age," Hillery said. "I just thought it was a weird-looking mole."

Since then, Hillery said she has had other areas with abnormal cell growth looked at and then removed.And she's been taking all the necessary steps to protect herself and the rest of her family, including her 2-year-old daughter.

Hillery hopes other people around her age will start checking themselves more often, and will take into consideration how serious skin cancer can be.

"I feel like most people think, 'Oh, it's just skin cancer. It's not that dangerous,' but it really is," Hillery said. "I don't think they realize how dangerous it can be."