HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.
9,500 people are diagnosed with a form of skin cancer every day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association.
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. AAD reports that nearly 10,000 people will be diagnosed this year alone, and 8,430 people will lose the battle against the disease.
One High Point woman fights every day after her stage four metastatic melanoma diagnosis.
Janet Mazzurco’s story dates back to 2009 when she got a dry spot on her arm checked out by a dermatologist. It was melanoma. Then a few years later, she found out it spread to her brain, her liver, her lungs and all over her body.
“Be proactive because this is a deadly cancer, and I want people to know it is not just skin cancer. It changes your life,” Mazzurco said.
She advocates for patients all year long, but this month, she makes an extra effort to tell everyone to check their skin.
“Honestly, I just didn’t understand much about melanoma at the time. That is why I am such a patient advocate now. I just didn’t understand. I thought it was skin cancer only, so I was shell-shocked when it ended up in my brain,” Mazzurco said.
Her case is severe.
“Most of the time, it is not a type that spreads inside or can really cause a lot of really serious damage to patients,” said Dr. Lindsay Strowd, the dermatology chair at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.
Dr. Strowd said early detection is key.
“Flat dark spots that change shape or kind of more pimply looking spots that won’t heal easily are things to keep an eye out for,” Dr. Strowd said.
On Wednesday, Dr. Strowd and her team will host two free screenings for skin cancer. One will be in Winston-Salem at their dermatology office on Country Club Road, and the other will be in High Point at their dermatology office at the Palladium. Both will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
“It is to rule out things, so we look people over … Every year, we typically diagnose several different skin cancers at these screening events,” Dr. Strowd said.
If you are in doubt, get it checked out.
“Overcome your fears. Talk to someone that can help you through that,” Mazzurco said.
Mazzurco has been on her journey for more than a decade but knows that her story is far from over.
“I am stable. We never call melanoma cured,” Mazzurco said.
Experts recommend wearing sun protective clothing, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and putting on sunscreen. Wear at least SPF 30 or higher and then reapply every two hours if you will be outside for a while.
