Peabody's Melanoma Foundation Cautions Teens Of Cancer Risk

PEABODY, MA — Steve Fine had run the Peabody-based Melanoma Education Foundation for schools across the country for nearly two decades when in 2017 he said he wanted to determine if the message of early detection of the common and potentially deadly skin cancer was hitting home with its teen audience.

He said a survey went out to about 1,700 middle and high schools using the web-based tools at the time with 334 responding. Out of those responses, he said the feedback was reassuring that the teens were paying attention and a relief that they were taking the message seriously since 49 students out of the 334 schools reported that ensuing self-examinations had led to the discovery of early melanoma.

"That was a humongous number," Fine told Patch. "We would have never expected that out of a teen population."

He said 74 percent of students involved wound up asking a pediatrician or dermatologist to have a mole looked at for cancerous signs, and that 50 percent of their parents did so as well. He added that as the result of the education 94 percent of students said they would stop or never try using an artificial tanning bed.

"The overwhelming response we got was that students really didn't know about the dangers of melanoma and what could cause it," Fine said.

As another summer approaches — one that promises many more opportunities for an extended time in the sun at public events than the coronavirus-related lockdown of 2020 — Fine's hope is to re-enforce some of the awareness that may have lapsed during a year spent often isolated and indoors with so many places closed or restricted.

"What we focus on primarily is early self-detection," Fine said. "Getting people who don't use sunscreen to suddenly start using it requires a big behavior change. But getting teens to do a quick check of their bodies requires a very minor behavior change. We found out early in the game it's more effective to go that route."

Educational videos and tools specifically for students and teachers can be found at www.melanomaeducation.net, while more general information and www.skincheck.org.

The Melanoma Education Foundation was founded in 1999 after Steve's son, Dan, died of melanoma at 26 years old the year prior. It was incorporated as a 501c (3) organization in Massachusetts in 2000.

Early on, Fine said the focus was mainly on visiting local middle and high schools to educate young people on the dangers of melanoma. As it expanded, it moved to more online tools that schools and students across the country could access.

All lessons are free.

Among the lessons are efficient and effective ways to scan the body to look for abnormal or changing marks and how to apply sunscreen.

"Very few people apply sunscreen in a sufficient amount," he used as an example. "So they are getting a much lower SPF than they think they are. You may be using a 100 SPF, but if you are only applying a quarter of the amount you should, less often than you should, the amount is actually closer to 3.1 (SPF)."

Fine said the biggest measure he wants younger people on the North Shore to know heading into the sunny season is that early detection is the key to preventing an abnormality from becoming something very serious.

"Check yourself head to toes, front and back, every month," he said. "If you do that, you are never going to die of melanoma."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)