Research. Educate. Advocate.

To support medical RESEARCH for finding effective treatments and eventually a cure for melanoma. To EDUCATE patients and physicians about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of melanoma. To act as an ADVOCATE for the melanoma community to raise the awareness of this disease and the need for a cure. Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) is the largest independent, national organization devoted to melanoma in the United States. Committed to the support of medical research in finding effective treatments and eventually a cure for melanoma.

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Stories

A Mom's Story

My mothers first battle with melanoma was in 2005.  She had a small spot on her neck, below her left ear. It was melanoma.  It was removed and the doctors gave her a clean bill of health.  Fast forward to 2010,  the melanoma was back, in the same spot, but larger and more aggressive.  Despite that, the doctors removed it, and once again gave her a clean bill of health, this was in May.  At the end of September, I received a call that my mom had been taken to the hospital for difficulty breathing.  I grabbed my two little girls, 2 and 4 at the time and headed up to see her.  By the time I got to the hospital the doctor was talking to my mom, they had run tests and the melanoma was back and had spread. It was in her lungs, liver, kidneys, and brain.  We were told she had two to four weeks left, she died two weeks later on Oct. 5, 2010.  She was 56 years old.

If its one thing I have taken from this, is that I will never let my children succumb to the peer pressure to be tan that I did and my mother did when she was young.  My mom often told me stories of when she was a teenager and how she would put baby oil on and lie out in the sun, this was in the 60's-70's, I guess they didn't know any better.  I often went tanning as a teenager and never once thought anything of it.  Now, if I could go back, knowing what I do, I wouldn't care how pale my skin was.  My two girls, who are fair skinned, freckled, blue eyed and red haired, know they never go outside without sun protection.  We lather on the sunscreen, wear our long sleeved rash guards and still enjoy ourselves.  I have even taken them with me to each and every skin check I have had, I want them to be comfortable with it, as one day they will need to go themselves.

Every once in a while my four year old will ask me why my mommy had to die. My simple answer to her is, she didn't have to. If only she wouldn't have cared that she was pale, if only years ago sun screen usage would have been encouraged, if only she would have known the damage it could cause, she would not have had to die.

Lauren's Story

When I was 17 my life changed. I found out I had Stage 2 melanoma. I used to try and tan all the time not realizing I'm a pale girl with freckles, and laying out in the sun for hours is probably not the best idea. I then noticed a small bump on my upper left shoulder, and thought nothing of it because I was a teenager who knew nothing about melanoma or skin cancer in general. Read more

Christine's Story

Cancer, it’s a word I don’t think I’ll ever get used to saying. Twenty-three, that’s how old I was when I got the dreaded phone call from my dermatologist. That, “Hi Christine, How are you? I’ve got good news and bad news.” Yeah, that call. “The bad news, you have Melanoma. The good news, we caught it early.” A small, irregular mole showed up on the backside of my right arm. My mom noticed it and insisted that I get it checked out. I was resistant; I thought ‘it’s okay.’ My dermatologist told me time and time again, “The sun is dangerous, wear sun block, don’t tan” but I always said, “It will never happen to me.” Read more

Josh's Story

About a year ago, I thought I was going to lose my health insurance due to low hours at the restaurant where I work while I pursue my comedy and acting career. I made all my doctor appointments to get a clean bill of health just in case I did lose my insurance. I hadn't been to my dermatologist for 4 years. Before I went, I noticed a small mole on my chest, no bigger than any other beauty mark or mole I have all over my body, but this one had a bit of red in it, and it just looked a bit odd to me. Read more

Maxine's Story

About 8 years ago on a pretty regular basis, I slithered into my leotard and tights and headed to an exercise class 3 mornings a week. Somewhere between the beat of the pounding music and the racing of my heart I was tapped on the shoulder by a young woman who rather shyly said, "I hope you don't mind, but are you aware that you have a dark spot on your back?" I responded by thanking her and telling her that though I was not aware of it, I did freckle and perhaps that's what it was. Read more