SAN DIEGO — The Melanoma Research Foundation is hosting the annual Miles for Melanoma San Diego 5K event on Sunday, October 20, at De Anza Cove Park.
I am proud to be the event's host and emcee again in 2024. Opening ceremonies begin at 8:30 am and kick off the 5K which starts at 9 am. The 5K walk/race will bring together the San Diego-area melanoma community to raise awareness and support of critical melanoma research.
The Melanoma Research Foundation hosts Miles for Melanoma 5K's across the country.
This Sunday is San Diego's chance to walk or run and receive a free skin cancer screening.
"It really takes about five minutes to do a skin cancer screening. It's really quick," said Insiyah Darugar.
She is the founder of Glow Therapy Aesthetic & Dermatology Studio in Carlsbad. She will attend the 5K to offer skin screenings and here's why.
"If you add up every single cancer, prostate, breast cancer, it still does not equate to the amount of skin cancer, so just think about that for a moment it's extremely prevalent," said Insiyah.
In 2019, my wife Heather urged me to get a skin cancer screening. It was my first one ever and melanoma was discovered on my back. That early detection could have saved my life.
"We are going to start with your scalp and work my down. Okay?" said Insiyah.
This is why, I wanted to do this story and show you how quick and easy a screening is to get. "I am looking for the ugly duckling. I am looking for the lesion that kind of stands out. He is kind of a freckly guy. He has a lot of sun damage and I am looking for that spot that stands out these all look like normal sun spots, maturity spots, and freckling that we see especially here in Southern California," said Insiyah.
Like many San Diegans, I spent a lot of time in the sun as a kid; oftentimes forgetting to wear a hat or sunscreen. Those mistakes probably led to that sneaky melanoma growing on my back where I couldn't see it.
"How does my melanoma scar look?" I asked. "It does look like a battle wound but it looks like the surgeon did a great job," said Insiyah.
That scar may be a bit ugly, but I'm lucky to have it. In the past five years, I've unfortunately met too many families who have tragically lost loved ones to skin cancer.
"Sometimes I just really like to zoom in on anything that looks just a little atypical. I can use my microscope to really zoom in," said Insiyah. "I see just normal mole pigment patterns. So far so good."
Insiyuh is a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner who says for women melanoma is most commonly found on their legs. "The easiest cancer screening you'll ever do is a skin cancer screening," said Insiyah. For men, she says melanoma is most often (just like in my case) discovered growing undetected on their backs, which is why you should ask your health professional about a screening.
I hope to see everyone at De Anza Cove this Sunday. For more information, click here.