ST. GEORGE —Think skin cancer is something you only read about online or see on TV? You may be surprised by how many people it’s affecting in Southern Utah alone.
May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and local residents who’ve experienced the scare of melanoma say they want to share their stories in hopes of saving lives.
Ivins resident and Leukemia survivor, Vera Dooley, said she had no idea her childhood years of playing in the sun without sunscreen would lead to another cancer nightmare. In January 2021, she found a mark on her arm and scheduled an exam.
During the exam, the doctor found a small pink bump on her leg. After a biopsy, the bump was diagnosed as a malignant melanoma. At her next visit, she said the doctor immediately knew the margins were outside the normal range and said she would need surgery.
“At that point, you couldn’t tell how far the cancer had spread,” Dooley said. “They wanted to know where the lymph nodes were because they were going to have to remove some of them.”
She was injected with dye to locate the lymph nodes in her leg and three were removed. But the nightmare was only beginning. Shortly after surgery, the wound became infected, her leg swelled up and she became very ill.
“I was septic,” Dooley said. “The wound itself looked absolutely terrible. I ended up in the ER twice and in the hospital for almost a week because the infection had gotten so bad. I honestly thought I was not going to make it.”
Dooley said the entire ordeal lasted seven months and the wound clinic ultimately saved her life. She has since had a basal carcinoma on her neck and six pre-cancerous bumps on her chest and arms burned off. She encouraged others to be diligent in getting checkups from their dermatologist and taking proper precautions to avoid unnecessary UV exposure.
“It’s scary every time I see something new,” Dooley said. “My first thought is, ‘Is this cancer?’ So you have to live with those choices you made. Is cancer going to be a thing I have to worry about the rest of my life? Well, yes it is. I would not want to have anyone go through this.”
Jennifer Harvey, a Washington City resident who was also diagnosed with melanoma, was lucky enough to catch the skin cancer early.
During a skin exam, the provider found a spot on her back that appeared concerning. When shown the mark, she was surprised it wasn’t a mole or large mark, but a small freckle.
“She called me a few days later and said, ‘Yeah, it’s cancer, but we caught it early,’” Harvey said. “I was so shocked, shocked that she found something to even be worried about. And the fact that it was cancer — I was floored.”
The melanoma was removed in-office at her next visit, which included a 6-millimeter circle section and an “eyeball” shaped incision created to close the incision properly. The process took less than an hour.
At 48 years old, she said she’s glad she made the appointment and that the cancer was caught early. She encouraged others to apply sunscreen that contains Zinc, use their phone’s weather apps to check when the UV index is at its highest and wear protective clothing or use an umbrella.
Dr. Steven Peine with Vivida Dermatology is a Mohs surgeon with special training in the treatment of skin cancer along with reconstructive surgery. He said it’s human nature to assume that a sore is a pimple or an insect bite that will get better. This pattern of hopeful thinking can cause a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer, including melanoma.
“It is best to be outdoors in the morning or in the evening when UV exposure is lowest,” Peine said. “A good rule of thumb is our shadow. It is best to be outside when our shadow is taller than us.”
Dr. Marie Tuttle with the Dermatology Clinic of Southern Utah said melanomas are often more difficult to find than less deadly skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. People are often surprised by melanomas because of their appearance, which is commonly flat and not felt on the skin.
Tuttle stressed the importance of knowing the warning signs of skin cancer and understanding the ABCDEs of melanoma.
“There have been a lot of advances in sun-protective clothing so that wearing long sleeves can be more comfortable than the sun blazing down on your skin,” Tuttle said. “No one believes me at first, but I challenge everyone to at least give it a try. Of course, sunscreen is important for the exposed areas and requires reapplying at least every two hours for full benefit, so clothing significantly cuts down on the work and mess of sunscreen.”
Tina Moussally, a board-certified physician assistant at Derm Haven, said she believes mothers are the basis of change. Mothers educate their children, lead by example and commonly make doctor appointments for the entire family. To support her mission to educate and identify skin cancer, Mousally is putting on a “Mamas and Mocktails” benefit at Derm Haven on Friday, May 12.
The event will feature a photo booth, a professional photographer, passed hors d’oeuvres, live music, a grand dessert table, a mocktail station, skin cancer-specific company vendors and a take-home bag for each guest.
A silent auction will take place and all proceeds will go straight to the Melanoma Research Foundation.
“As moms, we sunscreen up our kids, and we make sure we don’t plan events in the middle of the day,” Mousally said. “But some of the moms are still tanning. If you’re putting sunscreen on your kids but you’re not putting it on yourself and you’re out there laying out, they’ll mirror what you do.”
While people enjoy Utah for its outdoors, Mousally said it also ranks in the top three highest skin cancer rates in the nation. Melanoma is not completely preventable and can be a result of genetics, but the biggest factor that causes melanoma is UV exposure – the one thing that can be prevented. She recommends regular full-body skin exams for early diagnosis.
For more information on skin cancer awareness, diagnosis and prevention, visit the American Institute for Cancer Research website.
Event details
- What: Mamas and Mocktails Benefitting the Melanoma Research Foundation
- When: Friday, May 12 from 7-10 p.m
- Where: Derm Haven, 352 E. Riverside Dr. A3 in St. George
- Admission: Tickets are $60 and include a free spot check
- For more information, see the event page
Photo Gallery
A Melanoma is diagnosed on Jennifer Harvey's back, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Jennifer Harvey, St. George News A Melanoma is diagnosed on Jennifer Harvey's back, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Jennifer Harvey, St. George News A Melanoma is removed and stitched up on Jennifer Harvey's back, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Jennifer Harvey, St. George News Melanoma survivor Jennifer Harvey smiles for the camera, location unspecified, April 26, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Jennifer Harvey, St. George News Steven Peine, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon in St. George | Photo via vivida.com Melanoma survivor Vera Dooley smiles for the camera at her home in Ivins, Utah, April 26, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News Dr. Marie Tuttle with the Dermatology Clinic of Southern Utah is pictured | Photo via utahdermclinic.com, St. George News The ABCDEs of Melanoma are shown | Image via aimatmelanoma.org A flyer for the upcoming "Mamas & Mocktails" event is pictured | Photo courtesy of Tina Moussally, St. George News Tina Moussally of Derm Haven is pictured in St. George, Utah, May 1, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Tina Moussally, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.