Skin deep: Understanding
CEO’S CORNER
DEAR READERS,
As we enjoy summer, it’s crucial we take care of our body’s first line of defense against the sun’s harmful rays—our skin. Sun protection is a yearround effort, but is particularly important as we all spend more time under the sun these next few months. In our cover story, we take a deeper look at skin cancer across skin tones and the diverse ways it affects us all.
Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate, which is why it’s vital to provide everyone with the knowledge and proactive measures to protect against the most common—but also the most preventable—type of cancer. Your continued support makes this possible. From embracing sun-safe practices to scheduling an annual skin cancer check, how will you empower yourself to stay skin healthy not just this season, but year-round?
Wishing you all a safe and healthy summer and thank you for allowing us to continue envisioning a world where cancer is preventable, detectable and beatable for all.
JODY HOYOS CEO
RECAP: Cancer Prevention
and Early Detection Month, April 2024
On March 29, the White House issued a presidential proclamation declaring April 2024 as the inaugural National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month. Eighty-four organizations supported the Prevent Cancer Foundation to help bring this initiative to life. Together in April, we raised awareness, inspired action, mobilized resources and highlighted the progress already made in the fight against cancer.
• The Foundation invited a bipartisan, bicameral audience of members of Congress and their spouses, as well as leaders in the cancer prevention community, to the annual Congressional Families® Program Spring Reception. The April 11 event recognized Dr. Francis Collins with the Carolyn “Bo” Aldigé Visionary Award for his landmark discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the Human Genome Project.
• The Holderness Family—winners of the 33rd season of “The Amazing Race” who are best known for funny, family-centric videos posted to their social media channels—starred in a PSA about scheduling routine cancer screenings. In addition, actor, producer, writer and breast cancer survivor Sheetal Sheth created a series of informational social media videos and spoke at the Congressional Families reception.
Scan the QR code to watch the Holderness Family PSA.
Dr. Francis Collins was honored with the Carolyn “Bo” Aldigé Visionary Award at the 2024 Spring Reception. From left to right: Jody Hoyos, Lisa McGovern, Dr. Francis Collins, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (Conn.) and Sheetal Sheth.
YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST TIME: GETTING A SKIN CHECK
—BY LORELEI MITRANI, SENIOR DIRECTOR, SPECIAL EVENTS AND MAJOR GIFTS
Before I started working at the Prevent Cancer Foundation, I had no idea that annual skin checks were a thing, at least not for people in their late 20s like I was. No peer had ever mentioned them to me, and I don’t remember the topic coming up during any annual check-ups with my primary care doctor. Even with a known family history of skin cancer, it wasn’t something I thought about.
I would love to tell you that once I was made aware, I immediately scheduled my first skin check, but that wasn’t the case. The Foundation’s 2024 Early Detection Survey found that more than half of U.S. adults are not up to date on their routine skin cancer screening and 29% of U.S. adults have never had a skin check for skin cancer. One common reason survey respondents cited was lack of symptoms.
It was the same with me: I was diligent about wearing sunscreen every day, I hadn’t seen or felt anything concerning, and after having gone so long without incorporating skin checks into my annual routine, it seemed easy to ignore it.
Seven years after I started working at the Foundation, I finally admitted to a colleague I had never had a skin check. It was their encouragement that finally helped push me into action.
Using the Foundation’s “find a doctor” feature at preventcancer.org, I found a dermatologist that seemed like a good fit. She was well reviewed, accepted my
insurance, had an opening within a month, and was only a 10-minute drive from my house.
When my appointment day came, I admit I was a little nervous—it’s hard not to be when you don’t know exactly what to expect. I made it to the doctor’s office 15 minutes early, filled out some paperwork, and waited for my name to be called. The next part was similar to any other preventive check-up I’ve had. The individual who called me back asked a few questions before providing me with a medical gown and leaving me to change, and she then returned with the doctor who performed the scheduled skin check.
My doctor was friendly and thorough during the exam, checking everywhere from the top of my head to between my toes. She let me know she was looking for any moles or spots that seemed suspicious and asked me if I had anything I was currently concerned about or wanted to flag for her. I mentioned a mole on my scalp that I had noticed recently as it was a little larger than some of my other moles and hard to get a good look at on my own.
The check began with the doctor asking me to lie back on the exam table and looking at skin that was easily visible and exposed (my hands, arms, face and neck) before looking through my hair
at my scalp—including the spot I had mentioned to her. She asked if it had given me any pain, itching or bleeding (which it had not) and thankfully said it did not appear concerning. Next, she moved to some of the more difficult-tosee areas, moving my robe as needed and talking me through each step of the exam. I did have to flip over on the table at one point so she could check everything on the back side of my body, but otherwise, no excess movements or body contortions needed. The exam was a little awkward at points, but never uncomfortable and didn’t take too long.
The doctor said everything looked normal, to stay vigilant with my sunscreen and that she would see me in a year. It feels good to know I am prioritizing my health and living according to the mission that I work to support on a daily basis!
If you’ve found yourself putting off your annual skin check, or if you’re like me and never had one, I hope my story encourages you to take that next step and book your appointment.
Lorelei gets ready for her skin cancer check.
ALCOHOL AND CANCER RISK: WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
Alcohol can cause serious health issues such as liver disease, heart disease, alcohol dependence and more. Whatever you decide to do when it comes to consuming alcohol, knowing the facts is a great place to start.
What’s the link between alcohol and cancer risk?
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of several types of cancer including breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver and oral cancers. The National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the International Agency for Research on Cancer both classify alcoholic beverages as a known human carcinogen.
Research shows that the more a person drinks—especially if they drink regularly over time—the higher the risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer.1 And even those who drink no more than one drink a day have an increased risk of cancer compared to someone who doesn’t drink at all.
How does drinking alcohol increase your risk of cancer?
It comes down to how alcohol is metabolized, or broken down, by your body. When you drink alcohol, ethanol (i.e., the form of alcohol contained in alcoholic beverages) is changed into a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde, which causes damage to the DNA of your cells while also preventing your body from repairing the damage. This can result in changes to how your cells grow and divide, potentially leading to tumor formation.
Alcohol also increases the levels of some hormones, including estrogen, that make cells divide more often, raising the risk for cancer.2 The amount of alcohol consumed is not what causes these changes. It is simply the presence in the body of alcohol in any amount that can do damage. All alcoholic drinks— whether beer, wine or liquor—are linked with cancer and no amount is considered safe.3
Despite this evidence, most people aren’t aware of the link between alcohol and cancer, and even among those who are, there can be some confusion. The National Cancer Institute found in a 2023 study that over 60% of American adults were unaware of the link between alcohol and cancer. And many mistakenly believed that the risk varies based on the type of alcohol consumed, including those who thought their cancer risk was greater from drinking liquor versus beer and those who thought drinking wine decreased their cancer risk.
1 Bagnardi, V. et al. (2001). Alcohol consumption and the risk of cancer. Alcohol Research and Health, 25(4), 263-270.
2 Rachdaoui, N. & Sarkar, D. (2013). Effects of alcohol on the endocrine system. Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America, 42(3), 593-615.
3 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research. Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity & Cancer: A Global Perspective. Continuous Update Project Expert Report 2018.
Is any amount of alcohol safe to drink?
Avoiding alcohol completely is best when it comes to reducing your cancer risk, as no amount is considered “safe.” Recommendations by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and USDHHS’ Dietary Guidelines for Americans 20202025 advise limiting intake to no more than 1 drink a day for women and 2 drinks a day for men. These are guidelines for your general health—not specific to cancer.
Research is ongoing to determine by how much and how fast it takes for your cancer risk to drop once you stop drinking. Until more is definitively known, avoiding alcohol completely is best when it comes to cancer risk.
What are good alcohol-free drink options?
People often drink alcohol to celebrate, socialize and relax, but mocktails can be equally fun and enjoyable. Here is one of our favorite mocktail recipes, as well as tricks to spice up your own mocktails.
Scan the QR code to watch a tutorial on how to make the Spicy Paloma!
Spicy Paloma
(Recipe adapted from Fit On)
THIS DRINK IS SPICY AND CITRUSY!
Ingredients:
• 1 grapefruit, juiced
• 1 lime, juiced
• Honey, to taste
• Grapefruit seltzer
• Small jalapeño, sliced into rings
• Tajín or chili lime seasoning of choice
Instructions:
1. Rim a glass with lime juice and dip into Tajín or chili lime seasoning.
2. Combine the grapefruit and lime juices in a cocktail shaker.
3. Add honey and jalapeño rings to a separate glass. Muddle and combine with the juice.
4. To serve, fill the glass with ice and top with sparkling water.
Here are a few more mocktailmaking tips and tricks:
• Freeze your glass to get the cold and satisfying experience you might associate with a cocktail.
• Use a pretty glass to elevate the beverage. It sounds simple, but if you skip the juice glass and opt for a tumbler, it’ll feel more special!
• Avoid lots of added sugar by choosing flavored seltzers instead of regular soda or juice.
• Use garnishes like fresh fruit or sprigs of mint to beautify your drink.
• Go simple by mixing club soda or tonic water with lemon or lime.
Skin deep:
Understanding skin cancer in darker tones
Anyone, regardless of skin color, can get skin cancer. It’s one of the most common types of cancer in the U.S., with an estimated 3.3 million people diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancers (such as basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma) annually and over 200,000 cases of invasive and non-invasive melanoma expected in 2024. While advances in skin cancer detection and treatment mean fewer people overall are dying of skin cancer, it’s more often associated with fair-skinned individuals—which means non-white people are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage.1
Sun protection and screening
Contrary to popular belief, darker skin tones do not provide natural sun protection. Although eumelanin—the type of melanin most prominent in skin of color—does absorb some ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, all skin tones require sunscreen when outside, and all people are susceptible to skin cancer.
All this means it’s important for everyone to get a routine skin check every year to check for cancer—but most people are behind on their screenings, and patients with darker skin tones may be less likely to get regular full-body skin exams.2 The Prevent Cancer Foundation’s 2024 Early Detection Survey revealed that more than half of U.S. adults are not up to date on their routine skin cancer screening. Among Black or African American survey respondents, 34% reported having never had a skin cancer check. Percentages of those who have never had a skin cancer check were similar among respondents who identified as Hispanic or Latino (34%) and Indigenous Peoples (29%).
While monthly self-checks of your skin can also be important, skin cancer can be harder to identify on darker skin tones as compared to on light or fair skin tones. When those with lighter skin tones develop cancerous growths, they are often more noticeable due to the difference in color between the growth and the surrounding skin. In
people with darker skin tones, growths may be less evident as the differences in color are not as pronounced. A dark spot, such as a mole, may be more difficult to see on darker skin.
Additionally, skin cancer may not always appear as a mole, but rather may appear as a scaly patch of skin, a raised bump, a sore that won’t heal or a dark line around or underneath a nail. If you have darker skin, it’s a good idea to have your skin check done by a health care provider, like a dermatologist, who is experienced in identifying skin cancer on all skin tones and knows what to look for.
People with darker skin are more vulnerable to melanoma where sun exposure isn’t as common, such as the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, around the genitals and under the nails. When you get an annual skin check, your health care provider should be checking your skin thoroughly, head to toe, to look for warning signs that may appear anywhere on the body—even where the sun doesn’t shine.
Research advances and limitations
New skin cancer screening tools are emerging, but that doesn’t mean they can be used effectively in all patients. Veronica Rotemberg, M.D., Ph.D., a 2023 Prevent
1 Bradford P. T. (2009). Skin cancer in skin of color. Dermatology Nursing, 21(4), 170–178
2 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5454668/
Cancer Foundation research grant recipient, knows artificial intelligence (AI) is on the horizon when it comes to detecting skin cancer.
“When we think about AI and how it affects patients of color, we know fundamentally that the training data, because it comes from a health care system that is structurally inequitable, will be biased,” she said.
That’s why she’s studying how skin tone affects AI performance for skin cancer detection.
“Research in early detection, including how to improve early detection of skin cancer and reduce potential harms of screening or biases in screening tools, will directly impact our dermatology patients and our profession,” Dr. Rotemberg said in an interview with the Prevent Cancer Foundation.
In addition to underdiagnosis, there’s reason to be cautious about how state of the art AI models may overdiagnose melanoma in patients of color, according to Dr. Rotemberg.
“We really are just at the beginning of understanding how biases in our training data and AI models will affect people in practice,” she said.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation is committed to advancing health equity as part of our vision of a world where cancer is preventable, detectable and beatable for all. We’re proud to support researchers like Dr. Rotemberg who are working to reduce the disproportionate impact of cancer on people of color.
How to protect yourself
Regardless of the color of your skin, here are some tips everyone should keep in their back pocket not just this summer, but year-round:
Know your skin: Regularly examine your skin from head to toe, including areas not typically exposed to the sun. Look for any changes in moles with the ABCDE rule:
• Asymmetry
• Border irregularity
• Color that is not uniform
• Diameter greater than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser)
• Evolving size, shape or color
Wear sunscreen: Even on a cloudy day, sunscreen is a must. Make sure to choose sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher with UVA and UVB protection (broad spectrum). Don’t forget to reapply every two hours.
Avoid being in the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when sunlight is strongest.
Never use tanning beds or sunlamps.
Visit the dermatologist: You should visit a dermatologist or have a health care provider examine your skin every year.
Scan the QR code for more information about skin cancer.
FEELING CHEEKY: Meet David Russo, founder of Cheeky Charity
We chatted with David Russo, founder of Cheeky Charity—a 2022 Prevent Cancer Foundation community grant recipient. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What inspired you to start Cheeky Charity?
Before [creating Cheeky Charity] was even an idea I had, I was affected by colorectal cancer. I was 32 years old, and I had blood in my stool. As a sexually active gay man, I wrote it off and abstained. [Editor’s Note: Light bleeding from anal sex can occur and typically isn’t cause for concern. It should stop within a couple of days.] But after about a month, I was still finding blood in my stool.
I went to the doctor and ended up pushing for a colonoscopy, and it found a few pre-cancerous polyps that were on the cusp of transitioning to cancer.
I called my parents and they said, “That makes sense. Your dad’s been getting polyps removed since he was 40. Your grandfather died of colorectal cancer. Your two (distant) cousins passed away from colorectal cancer.”
I didn’t know. Nobody talked about it. I knew my grandfather died of cancer before I was born, but I didn’t know what kind it was.
I started an Instagram page to post fun photos and PSAs about colorectal cancer alongside them. I wanted to attract people who would not otherwise see information about colorectal cancer.
Our focus is on the LGBTQ+ community and within that, the younger adult population. But we want everybody to see our messaging. During Pride Month this year, we’re trying to get colorectal cancer awareness into as many Pride events around the country as possible.
Why is it important to raise awareness of colorectal cancer in the LGBTQ+ community?
There are a lot of stigmas that people in the LGBTQ+ community have about what they’ll experience when they go into a health care setting.
The American Cancer Society’s 2024 Facts and Figures report says that one in six people in the LGBTQ+ community are not getting preventive screenings because of poor past experiences and fear—like the fear of discrimination or not being welcome. That number is one in five within the trans community.
As a society, we must do better so that LGBTQ+ people can access the care they need. And as an LGBTQ+ person, I want to empower my community to advocate for their health.
David Russo, Founder and Executive Director of Cheeky Charity
What has funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation allowed Cheeky Charity to do?
Last year’s $25,000 grant from the Prevent Cancer Foundation allowed us to work on the ground for in-person initiatives, and we were recently awarded $250,000 from the New York State Department of Health to expand our work. We have so much opportunity and growth, and it’s thanks to the Foundation for trusting us.
How is your work having an impact?
People have come up to me and said, “I saw your campaign. I got screened and they found polyps.” It’s the folks that told me they caught polyps early and prevented cancer that stand out the most, and I start crying and then they start crying and it’s just a big teary mess in all the best ways.
Scan the QR code for more information about colorectal cancer.
Unveiling the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month street banner that was displayed throughout Palm Springs during March, with the Mayor of Palm Springs, Jeffrey Bernstein.
UPDATES FROM THE HILL:
Bipartisan cancer prevention legislation moves forward
Historic bipartisan cancer prevention legislation passes unanimously in the House Ways and Means Committee. What’s next?
On June 27, The Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 2407) was marked up and passed by the House Ways and Means Committee by a unanimous, bipartisan vote of 38-0. As of July 1, the legislation is supported by a historic 290 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and 63 in the Senate—the most support the bill has seen since its introduction to Congress—representing a substantial majority and strong bipartisan support. This legislation also has the support of more than 500 leading health care and advocacy organizations across the U.S., demonstrating the significant impact that it would have on a diverse set of communities throughout our nation.
Passage out of committee is an important and crucial step in the legislative process. The bill now needs to move onto the House floor, be passed by the House and the Senate, and signed into law.
Scan the QR code to follow along with updates on MCED
Today, there are recommended routine screenings for only a few of more than 200 cancers, leaving most cancers undetected until symptoms appear, often in later stages. This legislation responds to the misalignment between advances in science and outdated policy. If passed, this legislation will give Medicare beneficiaries the possibility of access to multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests once they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and shown to have clinical benefit. MCED tests, also called liquid biopsies, are bloodbased tests designed to identify the presence of cancer for more than one cancer at a time.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation is thankful to Senators Bennet (D-Colo.), Crapo (R-Idaho), Cardin (D-Md.) and Scott (R-S.C.) as well as Representatives Arrington (R-Texas) and Sewell (D-Ala.) for their leadership and efforts to prioritize passage of this important legislation this year.
MONTHLY GIVING
At the Prevent Cancer Foundation we know small things can have a big impact, whether that takes the form of small lifestyle changes to help reduce your own cancer risk, a Foundation grantee leveraging a small seed grant into millions of dollars in future project funding, or a donor giving small monthly donations throughout the year.
That’s where the Innovation Circle comes in. By joining this monthly giving program, you can play a crucial role in advancing the Foundation’s mission.
Your recurring donations will provide a steady stream of funding we can rely on to empower people to stay ahead of cancer through prevention and early detection. With your support, we can fund additional innovative research and educate more people about cancer prevention and early detection.
Donating monthly demonstrates your ongoing commitment to preventing cancer or detecting it early, when treatment is more likely to be successful. Your recurring donations add up over time and significantly
impact the Foundation’s ability to drive the future of cancer prevention and early detection. Monthly donations are also the easiest way to give, spreading your donation out over the year with one simple transaction.
Here at the Foundation, we dare to imagine a world where cancer is preventable, detectable and beatable for all— where a community of people can forever transform the reality of cancer. Join our Innovation Circle today and become part of this community that is striving for better outcomes and a brighter tomorrow.
Scan the QR Code to set up your monthly giving donation today!
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