Melanoma Awareness Month: Progress is Power

From the desk of MRF CEO Kyleigh LiPira:

May is Melanoma Awareness Month, a time to create awareness about melanoma, teach our community about prevention and celebrate the many survivors and thrivers in our community who are bravely sharing their personal stories to inspire and motivate others.

This year, we are celebrating advancements in support of those impacted by melanoma and recognizing the work that still needs to be done through our 2022 slogan: PROGRESS IS POWER! This slogan truly embodies the historic achievements made, such as the first and only FDA-approved treatment for metastatic uveal melanoma called Kimmtrak (tebentafusp) and a new FDA approval for cutaneous melanoma – Opdualag, the first LAG-3-Blocking Antibody Combination Therapy. But there’s still work to be done!

On Melanoma Monday (May 2) we will launch our award winning #GetNaked awareness campaign which encourages everyone to check their skin each month and see a board-certified dermatologist each year for a full-body skin screening. This year’s campaign features two incredible spokespeople: Monique Mack, Neutrogena’s “In the Sun” documentary participant, acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) survivor and MRF advocate, as well as Summer Sanders, Olympic gold medalist in swimming, American sports commentator, reporter, television personality, actress and cutaneous melanoma survivor. You can also see this amazing campaign broadcast in Times Square at 1500 Broadway, generously supported by our partners at Bristol Myers Squibb.

In just a couple days, alongside the MRF’s National Prevention Sponsor, Neutrogena, we will be co-hosting a special Tik Tok with Neutrogena Ambassadors, R&B group duo and social media influencers, Chloe & Halle! On Thursdays throughout the month, I invite you to join our "derm-fluencer" Instagram Live series where you’ll see a few familiar faces discussing topics ranging from sun safety, debunking popular dermatological myths and more! Make sure you’re following the MRF on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok and LinkedIn so you don’t miss any of our Melanoma Awareness Month activities.

We hope you can tune in for a webinar, attend a patient symposium, come walk or run at a Miles for Melanoma 5K or take a moment to share one of our melanoma facts on social media. You will never know the lives you can change by sharing this important information and encouraging everyone in your community to #GetNaked!

With gratitude,

Ask the Expert: Care Following an Early Stage Melanoma Diagnosis

If you or a loved one have been recently diagnosed with early stage melanoma, you may have many questions about what happens next. As part of our education and patient support resources offered during Melanoma Awareness Month, the MRF will host a live "Ask the Expert" virtual discussion on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT, sponsored by Castle Biosciences. Bring your questions and join a live discussion and Q&A to cover a wide variety of topics related to early stage melanoma diagnosis, staging, sentinel lymph node biopsies and follow-up care. Click below to register today!

The MRF thanks our partners at Castle Biosciences for their support and commitment to melanoma education and awareness.

Attend a Melanoma Patient Symposium in May

The 2022 Melanoma Patient Symposium series is underway with five upcoming events in the month of May offering both in-person and virtual learning opportunities! Click below to learn more about each May event, and visit the Patient & Caregiver Meetings page to see the entire list of upcoming educational events and view recordings from previous years' presentations.

• Monday, May 2, 12:30pm ET:  University of North Carolina Patient Symposium (In-Person and Virtual)
• Friday, May 6, 7:30am ET: University of Pennsylvania Focus on Melanoma Symposium (Virtual)
• Saturday, May 7, 8:30am MT: University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute Patient Symposium (In-Person and Virtual)
• Thursday, May 12, 5:30pm ET:Georgetown University Mini Symposium (Virtual)
  
• Saturday, May 21, 9:00am PT: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Patient Symposium (Virtual)
  

The Miles for Melanoma Season is Here!

The Miles for Melanoma season is here and the first run/walks of 2022 are now open for registration! Click below to visit the brand new Miles for Melanoma website, watch a recap video from last year's events and view the entire 2022 event calendar. If you are part of our Estero, Florida, Washington, DC, Boston, MA, Memphis, TN and Denver, CO communities, registration is now open for your events! Form a team to start fundraising today, and we look forward to seeing you at one of 16 events held coast to coast in 2022!