The risk of melanoma is high for golfers who spend hours out on the golf course unprotected, especially for men age 50 and older. Early detection and prevention are key in reducing the risks of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. IMPACT Melanoma’s Golf Tournament brings golfers together in support of its educational, support and advocacy programs.

When I tell people I had cancer most automatically react with “but you’re so young!” or “what a terrible thing to go through so early in life.” The “being young” part may be true, and it was an experience I’ll never forget, but in hindsight I’m not so sure that it was “terrible.” I was diagnosed when I was only 20 years old, but I look back now and realize that having melanoma before I was even considered a legal adult in the U.S. was a complete blessing in disguise. At the age of seventeen I was like most girls that age; I was insecure and uncomfortable in my own skin.

It was winter break of my junior year at Fairfield University in December of 2003. In a month, I would be leaving for a semester abroad in Australia. Life was good. One day I happened to notice a funky looking freckle on the top of my right forearm. I showed it to my mom, who is a nurse, and we both decided that while it probably was not a big deal, it would be a good idea to get it checked out before I left for Australia. I was informed via a phone call with the results of the biopsy; the tissue removed was benign.

In our Shades of Hope video, four courageous people who have been touched by melanoma, share their personal stories and describe how the programs offered by IMPACT Melanoma have changed their lives.

Did you know that the majority of late-stage melanomas are found in white males over 50? Regular skin exams and skin checks by a dermatologist can prevent many of these melanomas. Our “Don’t Wait” video highlights the importance of trusting one’s instincts and taking the initiative to have a suspicious mole evaluated by a doctor or dermatologist. Early detection saved the lives of the three men whose stories are told in this video.