Do you know anybody who has or had melanoma? If you answered yes, you’re among many others – melanoma is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in the United States. Rates of the skin cancer are increasing rapidly, particularly among younger people and in fact, cases of melanoma just in the last 30 years alone have tripled.
To encourage more awareness of this serious disease, a number of celebrities have publicly shared their battles with skin cancer, here are just a few…
Jimmy Carter
The former president announced he was battling melanoma in 2015. Thankfully he made a full recovery after treatment with Keytruda (Pembrolizumab), an immunotherapy drug.
Maureen Regan
The daughter of former president Ronald Regan sadly passed away in 2001 after a five year battle Melanoma.
Troy Aikman
This football legend had spotted a suspicious mole on his shoulder that turned out to be melanoma. He later had an operation to remove the melanoma and is now doing fine.
Eva Cassidy
The singer was only in her thirties when she had a malignant mole removed from her back. Three years later, the melanoma returned and she sadly passed away from the disease.
Know the signs
One of the most important elements of melanoma treatment is early detection. The Melanoma Research Alliance put together a brief alphabetized checklist to keep in mind to help identify early warning signs:
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