I am writing this on May 1, 2020. Today is the first day of Melanoma and Skin
Cancer awareness month. May is typically
a month where you’ll see news stories on skin cancer awareness and sun
safety. You’ll often see a charity run
or walk occurring on the weekend. It’s a
good chance such an event is held to raise money for the Melanoma Research
Foundation, AIM for a Cure, or some other melanoma organization.
However, this year, the medical news is dominated by
COVID-19…the pandemic sweeping the world.
There will be no gatherings for a walk.
There will be no gala.
In May, we are slowly trying to reopen the world, but it’ll be a slow
and cautious process. People are not so
concerned about skin cancer.
Usually, I would point out that people die of melanoma at a
rate of greater than one person an hour. That’s over 9,000 people who will be
lost this year. However, the virus has
claimed nearly 63,000 U.S. citizens at the time of this writing within the last
3 or 4 months.
These deaths do not reduce the significance of the melanoma
fatalities by any means. Still, it’s easy for the general population to miss
during these times. I hope that all
other deaths outside of the virus will not be forgotten. The families affected by a death from
melanoma, any cancer, heart disease, or any other fatal illness grieve as much
as anyone. This year it might be even
harder because the families are not allowed to visit the sick in the
hospital. COVID-19 is killing not only
those it affects directly but kills the opportunity to pass on with family near
them in the hospital. Afraid and alone.
2020 is not a typical year.
Please keep all who suffer in your thoughts this year. Keep those who are trying to keep our sick
comforted in your thoughts. Keep in your
thoughts those families who can’t say goodbye, or can’t attend the funeral.
It’s still Melanoma Awareness month, and I plan to post a
few more thoughts and reminders. I
encourage you…beg you…to wear sunscreen. I still encourage you to visit your
dermatologist on at least an annual basis.
And while you can’t walk or run in a charity event, you can still donate
money to the melanoma organization of your choice.
Be safe out there.
And be sun-safe as well.
