Can Anyone Help Me Spread The Word?

Since May is national skin cancer awareness month, a publication I work for is trying to find women to share their stories about skin cancer. My father had skin cancer and I think this is really important to educate people through understanding other people's stories.

I am looking for women (especially those who may have missed their own diagnosis) willing to share their story, but I'm having a hard time finding appropriate places to look.

Does anyone know where I can begin to find women who would like to share their story?

I don't know if my story will help. I have had basal cell and melanoma in situ. My story would be that people be very proactive about their care. I had my melanoma for 3 yrs. before my doctor bx'd it. It didn't have the usual appearance. I am now doing Carac cream on my face, chest and hands. That was my decision not my doctors.

I had BCC five years ago on my forehead.  It first showed as a tiny, flat, light pink spot just above my eyebrow.  It went away 2-3 days later and showed up a few months ago, looking the same, at the same spot.  I thought that was unusual.   By the time I got to a dermatologist it, stayed put and looked the same.  So innocent.  They did a biopsy, and I had Moh's surgery which ended up a large, fishook cut.  It has healed beautifully.  So, when I saw two, skin-colored dry areas near my hairline I immediately went to the Moh's doc's office.  The PA said it looked like pre-cancer (AK) and prescribed the Efudex, 5 %, twice a day for 21 days.  

 I hate doing this, but I feel like it is for the best.  If you could see my face now (all so beautiful previosly--in other words, it looked so pure and innocent) and now I see all the HIDDEN bad-cell areas.  In the future I hope to use a Retin-A type cream in hopes to more, much more, gently turn my cells over faster on a daily basis.  I'll ask my PA.

I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on my chest this past September.Didn't look like the usual textbook spot we are trained to look for. I am sure I should of had it checked sooner because it was considered stage 3. After a painful surgery and skin graft I still have to be checked every 2 to 3 months by my dermatologist and stay out of the sun as much as possible. The physical scars are as bad as emotional scars because of how deep they had to cut in and width.Now I tell family and friends to get any small thing checked.Anyway I am happy to share anything helpful.

Don't your dermatologists use liquid nitrogen on AKs?  I am a mohs tech for a dermatologist in Florida and we hit AKs with LN2 as soon as they pop up and it stops them dead in their tracks.  Occasionally they need another shot or two, but it's so much easier (and quicker) than weeks of pain from 5FU creams.  The only down side is it leaves a tiny white dot and it's difficult to treat large areas all at once.  It's geared more towards individual or lightly scattered AKs.