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| | Melanoma in Men – Raising Awareness
June is Men’s Health Awareness Month and while melanoma doesn’t discriminate and affects both men and women, research shows that men are more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma at later stages and have higher mortality rates than women.
A major contributing factor to the difference in outcomes is that men are significantly less likely to engage in preventive screening behaviors. Fewer men perform regular skin self-examinations, which can lead to earlier detection. Men are less likely than women to see dermatologists for routine skin checks and awareness campaigns and health education tend to reach women more effectively, especially since women more frequently seek routine healthcare services.
This month, share some of this information with your community and encourage the men in your life to embrace sun safe practices such as the daily use of sunscreen and UPF protective clothing and to #GetNaked and check their own skin or if you are a care partner, help check areas of their skin that they may not be able to see. Melanoma is most frequently diagnosed on men’s backs or the head/neck area. To learn how to perform a skin check, check out our “The More You Mela-KNOW-Ma Self-Skin Screening Guide” here. Cutaneous melanoma is 93% preventable, let’s work together to make sure men are protecting their skin from this horrific disease.
*Statistics Referenced from American Acadamy of Dermatology and American Cancer Society
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| Donor Spotlight: Christy Luth Andrisen, Longstanding Member of the Denver Gala Host Committee, Shares Her Father’s Melanoma Journey This Men’s Health Month
In our latest donor spotlight, Christy Andrisen shares the touching story of her father, Bob, a devoted family man whose warmth, wisdom and generosity left a lasting legacy. Despite staying on top of routine wellness checks, Bob was diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma after a cell from a previous surgery silently spread. Just 28 days later, he sadly passed away. Christy now honors his memory by raising awareness and funds through the MRF and has served on the Denver Gala host committee since 2011 to support the local melanoma community, helping others understand that melanoma can affect anyone—and that prevention, research and early detection saves lives.
As we recognize Men’s Health Awareness Month this June, it’s important to remember that melanoma is significantly more common in men, who face a 1.6x higher incidence rate than women. Preventative care and education can make all the difference. Let Bob’s story serve as a powerful reminder to protect your skin, prioritize regular checks and support critical melanoma research for the men in our lives. Click below to read Christy’s full story.
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| American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting Recap |
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The MRF attended the recent American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASC) Annual Meeting to learn more about the latest developments in melanoma research, engage with the melanoma scientific community and foster connections and we are proud to share our findings with you! During ASCO, the MRF Breakthrough Consortium (MRFBC), a national network of 30 centers of excellence in melanoma with a mission to accelerate the research and development of the most promising therapies in melanoma treatment, held its annual meeting where researchers discussed innovative translational research and current clinical trials focusing on improving outcomes for patients including cutaneous melanoma, rare melanoma subtypes and current studies on immune-related adverse effects.
In addition, we were thrilled to recognize this year’s Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, and MRF’s joint ASCO Merit Awardee, Dr. Mark Schuiveling, an oncologist and research scientist specializing in immunotherapy. Dr. Schuiveling’s research focuses on the use of Artificial Intelligence to detect tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes to predict response to PD-1-based treatment in advanced melanoma. His award presentation demonstrated progress in the advancement of biomarker research. You can view a brief video about his research here.
We encourage you to tune into our upcoming “Ask the Expert” session on July 2 at 6:00pm ET to hear from experts on the ASCO highlights most pertinent for cutaneous melanoma patients. Learn more and register here. Additionally, be on the lookout for a uveal melanoma ASCO highlight “Ask the Expert” on July 22nd- more information to come! You can also access ASCO’s Research Summaries for Patients for accessible insights into this year’s meeting here.
Finally, visit our recent ASCO blog recap for a complete summary of all educational sessions and key findings here.
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| | We are thrilled to announce the 2025 Resident/Fellow Research Grant Awardees! Congratulations to the five outstanding researchers selected this year, each of whom is driving innovative research that will help advance the science of melanoma treatment and care.
Funding for our Resident/Fellow Awards was also provided in honor of Richard Draeger.
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CDMRP Funding Update: House Defense Bill Moves Forward Without Dedicated Melanoma Funding
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense (HAC-D) released its committee report at the beginning of the month, detailing FY26 allocations for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). Unfortunately, the Melanoma Research Program (MRP) was not allocated dedicated funding. Instead, the report indicated that melanoma research will be pulled into the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) along with 17 other cancers, competing for $180 million in funds.
In response, the MRF circulated a sign on letter to the House Appropriations Committee leadership urging them to restore the MRP’s funding cut by the subcommittee. The letter included over 100 signatures from the medical research community as well as other patient advocacy organizations.
On June 12th, the full House Appropriations Committee held its markup of the Defense bill where ranking member of HAC-D, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4) proposed an amendment that would restore funding to the programs defunded by the subcommittee – including $10 million for the MRP. Rep. McCollum pulled her amendment after agreement from Chair Tom Cole (R-OK-4) and HAC-D Chair Ken Calvert (R-CA-41) to secure additional funds for those programs in conference.
The MRF is closely monitoring any further developments with respect to the CDMRP as the FY26 deadline approaches.
Congress Introduces Bill to Improve U.S. Sunscreen Approval Process: SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act
The Congressional Skin Cancer Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. John Joyce, MD (R-PA-13), Dave Joyce (R-OH-14), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) and Deborah Ross (D-NC-2) introduced the Supporting Accessible, Flexible, and Effective (SAFE) Sunscreen Standards Act (H.R. 3686). This bipartisan legislation recognizes the urgent need to approve new sunscreen ingredients to ensure access to safe and effective sunscreen for all and was one of our legislative asks at our most recent Advocacy Days.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has failed to approve any new sunscreen filters since the 1990s. As a result, the U.S. remains woefully behind other countries in sunscreen technology. The SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act, if passed, would effectively streamline the FDA’s review process, allowing the FDA to use real world human safety data or other alternatives to animal testing and create a better pathway for sunscreen ingredient approval.
On behalf of the melanoma community, we thank Rep. John Joyce, MD for his commitment to skin cancer prevention. We will continue to meet with lawmakers to encourage their support of this important legislation.
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| Check out the newly updated TIL Cell Therapy Animated Patient Video!
Facing advanced cutaneous melanoma and wondering if TIL (Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte) Cell Therapy might be right for you, your patient, or your loved one? Explore our newly updated Animated Patient Video: TIL Cell Therapy for Melanoma. Graciously sponsored by Iovance Biotherapeutics, the animation explores the science behind the FDA approved TIL Cell Therapy, the eligibility criteria and what patients can expect during the treatment process. Featuring expert insight from Dr. Rekha Chaudhary, patients, caregivers and audience members are provided with the knowledge and guidance they need to make informed decisions about seeking care.
Visit https://www.youandmelanoma.com/en-mn/view/m501-a501-til-cell-therapy-for-melanoma-animation to watch now!
RSVP For Our Upcoming Ask the Expert Webinars |
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Join us this Wednesday, July 2 at 6 PM ET for a special Ask the Expert webinar featuring Dr. Katy Tsai of UCSF Cancer Center. Dr. Tsai will share key insights and research highlights from the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting, tailored specifically for the cutaneous melanoma community.
This session will cover important updates on promising neoadjuvant approaches, immunotherapy advancements and helpful ways to personalize your melanoma treatment journey.
Learn about the first FDA-approved treatment for uveal melanoma in our upcoming webinar sponsored by Delcath Systems, Inc, on July 15 at 7:00 PM ET. When uveal melanoma spreads, it most commonly affects the liver. This webinar will explore how physicians are using liver-directed therapies, review new treatment options and provide updates on the first FDA-approved therapy for uveal melanoma.
Designed specifically for OM patients and caregivers, this session will offer expert insight into the latest advances in Uveal Melanoma.
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Now Live: Mayo Clinic Patient & Caregiver Symposium Session Recordings!
You can now view all recorded sessions from the recent Together Against Melanoma: A Patient & Caregiver Symposium, hosted in collaboration with Mayo Clinic. This event featured expert-led discussions on melanoma care, covering topics such as immunotherapy, surgical management, nutritional support and more.
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| Miles for Melanoma: Summer Momentum is Heating Up! |
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Miles for Melanoma is kicking off the season strong! Our Denver event this month brought in an incredible $97,216 — and there’s still time to give! Donations for the Denver community are open until July 14, so click here to make your impact. Plus, don’t miss the highlight reel from New England — you can watch it here!
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| | Unite for a Cure: Join Us at the 2025 Denver & New York Galas |
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Get ready for two unforgettable evenings in the fight against melanoma! We’re just a few months away from the 14th Annual Denver Gala at our stunning new venue, Asterisk, on Thursday, September 18, and the 24th Annual New York Gala at the iconic Cipriani Broadway on Thursday, October 30.
These signature events are more than just celebrations—they’re powerful gatherings that fuel progress in research, awareness and advocacy. Guests will enjoy an elegant cocktail reception, open bar, gourmet dinner and an inspiring awards program honoring changemakers in the melanoma community. Don’t miss your chance to take part in these meaningful evenings. Tickets and sponsorships are still available—secure your spot today!
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