Longer days in May are a welcome reminder that summer is almost here. For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived for my family’s annual summer trip to the beaches of Cape Cod. And in June I’m headed back to the Cape for the first time since 2022 with my now larger, blended family. I’m looking forward to the trip but also thinking ahead about the dangers of sun exposure, and how that increases the risk for melanoma and other forms of skin cancer.
Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer, yet it is considered preventable in 90% of instances according to the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF). Melanoma is typically caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV), whether from the sun or tanning beds. Those with fair skin and a history of sunburns are at higher risk, but prevention can start early. Safe sun practices like those promoted by the SunAWARE education program from the MRF encourages young people to wear protective clothing and avoid direct sun exposure during the times of day when UV rays are the strongest.
May is Melanoma Awareness Month, a time for encouraging sun safety and prevention. A few years ago, Sara wrote about her favorite sun-safe clothing and sunscreen brands. In addition to sun safety, I’d also like to bring attention to lesser-known kinds of melanoma, and the encouraging treatments that have emerged.
What many people don’t realize is that melanoma can develop anywhere on the body, even in places where the sun doesn’t reach. My brother-in-law and a close girlfriend are both fighting melanomas that were found in areas nowhere near the skin’s surface, near the brain and spine respectively. Their “melanomas with unknown primary (MUP),” while internal, are still thought to have originated on the skin.
While the rates of melanoma have increased in the past few decades, encouraging new treatments have emerged during that time. In late December 2024, former President Jimmy Carter died at age 100. He led a remarkable life, but what many forget is how close we came to losing him a decade earlier when he was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma.
President Carter’s cancer had spread to his liver and brain, yet new immunotherapies helped eradicate the cancer, adding another decade to his life. As NBC News shared soon after the President’s death, “The world of medicine will remember him not only as a person who beat the cancer that spread in his body, but also as arguably the most influential voice to raise awareness of a cutting-edge cancer treatment: immunotherapy.”
Advancements in melanoma treatments continue to bring new hope to patients facing the disease. Organizations like the Melanoma Research Foundation and clinical trials led by Dr. Antoni Ribas’ Tumor Immunology & Immunotherapy Program at UCLA’s Johnsson Comprehensive Cancer Center are sustained by hardworking physicians, researchers, and committed donors. Donors like my nephew Charlie, who raised thousands of dollars for IMPACTMelanoma when he ran the Boston Marathon last month in honor of his Uncle Rob’s fight against melanoma.
Melanoma Awareness Month is not just about education—it’s about action, advocacy, and hope for those affected by this disease. By prioritizing sun safety, supporting research, and raising awareness, we can help ensure a future where more people are protected, more treatments are available, and fewer lives are lost to melanoma.
The last decade has been transformative, but we’re just getting started.
Dr. Antoni Ribas, UCLA
