Over the last two years, I have had the great pleasure of meeting many of the physicians who have waged war on melanoma.  I have developed deep admiration and respect for each and every one of them.  From time to time I will highlight them.  In our blog today, I would like to mention a doctor who I have developed a friendship with, Dr. Steven Wang.

Dr. Wang is the Director of Dermatologic Surgery and Dermatology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.  When I was first introduced to the world of combating melanoma, Dr. Wang was among the first physicians I met.  He has trained under many of the well-respected specialists in dermatology and has indeed embarked on an impressive career.  After several meetings, it was clear that Dr. Wang was very interested in the MoleSafe program.  Since then, we have remained in occasional contact and I consider him both a friend and a colleague.  Dr. Wang recently wrote and published a book called “Beating Melanoma – The Survival Manual.”  It is currently available on his website: www.beatingmelanoma.com.

This book is a powerful tool for those who have been devastated by their diagnosis with melanoma.    Dr. Wang takes the reader through the necessary steps of dealing with your dermatologist, surgeon and oncologist; provides a clear guide outlining what you, the patient, must be sure to do; assists you in asking the right questions and getting the right answers; And most importantly provides an encouraging path for those struggling with their melanoma experience.

I recommend that you visit Dr. Wang’s website and that if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with melanoma, you consider reading this book.

Launched by the Australian Cancer Council in 1981, ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ remains one of the most successful youth health campaigns in Australia’s history.  Sid the seagull, dressed in his colorful beach outfit, danced across the TV screen singing a catchy jingle to constantly remind Australians how to protect themselves from the sun’s strong rays.  This campaign has resulted in a significant improvement in the behavior of the population regarding sun protection over the past two decades.

‘Slip, slop, slap’ – stands for slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat.  These three simple steps, along with other useful tips can help reduce the risk of skin cancer.  But, just this year, Australia has added two more S’s to the equation. Check out Sid the Seagull on TV in 2009.

Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world. To put it in perspective, it is four times the rate of melanoma in the USA.

Perhaps we need to enlist the help of a catchy slogan to keep skin cancer awareness top of mind here in the United States.  Furthermore, focusing on a slogan that is effective on our youthful population will help save young skin from the sun burns that leave them more vulnerable to melanoma later on in life.  So let’s be inspired by Sid the seagull -what other kinds of slogans can we use to teach our children about sun protection?

We all know limiting sun exposure will result in less skin cancer.  We also know that the sooner we begin to educate our children, the quicker it will become part of our everyday life.  It will take decades to see this change.  In the meantime, we should not forget that early detection is the only cure for melanoma.