Question: Tell us your story! (How are you either a Survivor, Warrior or Protector)
Answer: My father-in-law was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic melanoma in 2022 and passed away from the aggressive spread of the cancer in January 2025.

Question: The Hardest Lesson — What’s something about skin cancer you wish you had known earlier?
Answer: Melanoma isn't always visible and easily removed. For years, my father-in-law visited the dermatologist for regular checkups. With his fair complexion and blue eyes, in addition to my family's love of boating, he was proactive about sunscreen, UPF clothing, and skin exams. He suffered from several medical conditions that were misdiagnosed before the cancer diagnosis was finally made, when the disease was detected in his brain and several other parts of his body. A visible point of origin for the melanoma was never found.

Question: A Moment That Changed Everything — Was there a moment that made you realize how serious skin cancer is?
Answer: The day we learned my father-in-law not only had melanoma but also had cancer in multiple organs—including his brain—I realized I knew next to nothing about skin cancer.

Question: From Fear to Action — How did your perspective on sun safety and skin health change?
Answer: Watching my father-in-law battle the aggressive spread of his cancer reiterated just how important it is to take precautions. Wear and reapply the sunscreen, wear that UPF shirt and hat, and limit your time outside, even on those overcast days. There will always be factors outside of our control, but take the steps you can control.

Question: Becoming an Advocate — What drives you to spread awareness, and what message do you hope people take to heart?
Answer: Be the friend who offers to put sunscreen on another friend's back. Even if it's uncomfortable for a minute, it's a small action that could make a big difference.

Question: Unexpected Support — Who or what was the biggest source of strength for you during your journey?
Answer: My family supported each other through changing treatment plans and plenty of ups and downs.

Question: Misconceptions — What’s the biggest thing people get wrong about having skin cancer?
Answer: Having skin cancer isn't black and white. It's not always finding a problematic freckle or having an abnormal mole removed. Skin cancer can be much deeper than the surface.

Question: The Impact of a Shirt — When you wear your Cabana Lifeline shirt, what does it symbolize to you?
Answer: By wearing the shirt, I am honoring my father-in-law's amazing strength up until his very last day. He fought as hard as he could, and my family supported him at every step. And we'll continue to celebrate him and share his story with those around us.

Question: Tell us your story! (How are you either a Survivor, Warrior or Protector)
Answer: As an oncologist I don't believe my job is done once my patients are declared "cancer free". Instead, I join my patients on their survivorship journey. I often repeat that — a healthy body is a cancer-resilient body. The best way to avoid a recurrence is to: eat well, sleep well, protect your skin cells from sun damage, and exercise.

Question: The Hardest Lesson — What’s something about skin cancer you wish you had known earlier?
Answer: How many young people don't realize they are in jeopardy of getting skin cancer.

Question: A Moment That Changed Everything — Was there a moment that made you realize how serious skin cancer is?
Answer: A 22-year-old patient.

Question: From Fear to Action — How did your perspective on sun safety and skin health change?
Answer: I realized it is important at every stage of life, but especially with children.

Question: Becoming an Advocate — What drives you to spread awareness, and what message do you hope people take to heart?
Answer: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure — it is a lot easier to prevent cancer than it is to cure it.

Question: Misconceptions — What’s the biggest thing people get wrong about having skin cancer?
Answer: That it can wait.

Question: The Impact of a Shirt — When you wear your Cabana Lifeline shirt, what does it symbolize to you?
Answer: Empowering people in their health.

Question: Tell us your story! (How are you either a Survivor, Warrior or Protector)
Answer: I am a protector. I recently lost a friend and co-worker to melanoma two weeks ago. Until her recent battle, I never knew how aggressive and quick things could escalate. I spoke with her daily and worked very closely with her for 9 years of my career at Natural Life. I advocated for her and pushed her to go to the doctor originally when she told me about the growth she had found on her foot. She waited so long to even speak up about it, and by the time she sought treatment, it was too late. I checked in with her daily and begged her to get help. She is so greatly missed already.

Question: The Hardest Lesson — What’s something about skin cancer you wish you had known earlier?
Answer: How aggressive it can be.

Question: A Moment That Changed Everything — Was there a moment that made you realize how serious skin cancer is?
Answer: Yes, when I signed on to work one morning expecting to hear from my friend, and found out hours later that she had passed away. This was only weeks after her diagnosis. She had waited too long to seek help.

Question: From Fear to Action — How did your perspective on sun safety and skin health change?
Answer: I have recently over the past few years been very adamant about the use of hats, sunscreen, and any kind of sun protection.

Question: Becoming an Advocate — What drives you to spread awareness, and what message do you hope people take to heart?
Answer: The loss of my friend has hit me so hard, and I hope everyone learns how serious melanoma can be, and how quickly things can escalate. I also hope people are more proactive with skin checks, and seek help as soon as they notice something irregular.

Question: Unexpected Support — Who or what was the biggest source of strength for you during your journey?
Answer: My family, friends, and coworkers. We at Natural Life all suffered a tremendous loss when our friend and coworker passed away.

Question: If You Could Change One Thing — What’s one sun habit you wish society would completely shift?
Answer: To teach skin protection at a younger age. When I was younger it was cool to get sunburnt and lay out without any kind of protection, or even use oils to increase sun exposure. I was born and raised in FL, and I feel like only once I was a young adult did people truly explain the importance of sun protection.

Question: Misconceptions — What’s the biggest thing people get wrong about having skin cancer?
Answer: That you can just have it removed, and everything will be okay. I have recently seen how intense it can be, and how aggressive it can be.

Question: The Impact of a Shirt — When you wear your Cabana Lifeline shirt, what does it symbolize to you?
Answer: That I am a protector, and will always advocate for my friends and family. It will honor my friend's legacy and remind me of her strength always.

Question: Tell us your story! (How are you either a Survivor, Warrior or Protector)
Answer: I am an advocate and protector! My daughter, Gracie, lost her life to melanoma after an eight-year-long battle. She was diagnosed at 23 with pediatric melanoma.

Question: The Hardest Lesson — What’s something about skin cancer you wish you had known earlier?
Answer: I wish I had questioned the doctors when Grace was 12 years old and had a mole removed on her head. The doctors weren't looking for melanoma in a child and so she was most likely misdiagnosed. I really didn't know anything about the cancer until she was diagnosed with it. My husband and I actively did our research and were thankful for the targeted therapies and immunotherapies that were developed prior to her diagnosis. Grace was a fighter and went through many treatments. The cancer came back in year eight with a vengeance and took her life.

Today, I am a board member on many organizations, such as the MRF, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Elephants and Tea, both here in Cleveland, Ohio. I actively advocate for the AYA Cancer population — a group that is often overlooked. Grace is my driving force to advocate for melanoma patients. No parent should have to watch their child fight such a battle.

Question: A Moment That Changed Everything — Was there a moment that made you realize how serious skin cancer is?
Answer: Yes, when my daughter was diagnosed with Stage IV and had metastases throughout her body and brain.

Question: From Fear to Action — How did your perspective on sun safety and skin health change?
Answer: We are a very active family, so I encourage sunscreen and clothing protection in the sun to anyone that will listen.

Question: Becoming an Advocate — What drives you to spread awareness, and what message do you hope people take to heart?
Answer: The loss of my daughter to melanoma is what drives my passion to raise awareness and dollars for research. Melanoma is deadly — wear sun protection!

Question: Unexpected Support — Who or what was the biggest source of strength for you during your journey?
Answer: My family was my strength, and the people that entered our lives along the way: doctors, nurses at the Cleveland Clinic, people I met when I began as chair of the Cleveland Miles for Melanoma event, MRF, Case CCC. I am grateful for all of the people that entered our lives along the way.

Question: If You Could Change One Thing — What’s one sun habit you wish society would completely shift?
Answer: Tanning.

Question: Misconceptions — What’s the biggest thing people get wrong about having skin cancer?
Answer: Thinking skin cancer is not a big deal — get it treated and move along. The fact is that sometimes that just doesn't work.

Question: The Impact of a Shirt — When you wear your Cabana Lifeline shirt, what does it symbolize to you?
Answer: That I AM an advocate and will continue to be for the rest of my life!

Question: Tell us your story! (How are you either a Survivor, Warrior or Protector)
Answer: Dermatologist at First Coast Mohs Surgery — I treat melanoma.

Question: A Moment That Changed Everything — Was there a moment that made you realize how serious skin cancer is?
Answer: During my medical rotation, I realized how serious skin cancer is and how fast it can spread.

Question: From Fear to Action — How did your perspective on sun safety and skin health change?
Answer: Sunscreen, sun shirts, sun hats — every day.

Question: Becoming an Advocate — What drives you to spread awareness, and what message do you hope people take to heart?
Answer: Get your skin checked regularly. Don’t ignore non-healing spots. Wear sunscreen and sun protection.

Question: If You Could Change One Thing — What’s one sun habit you wish society would completely shift?
Answer: Stop using tanning beds.

Question: The Impact of a Shirt — When you wear your Cabana Lifeline shirt, what does it symbolize to you?
Answer: I have saved many patients from skin cancer.

Question: Tell us your story! (How are you either a Survivor, Warrior or Protector)
Answer: I am a provider that treats skin cancer and preventative skin cancer.

Question: If You Could Change One Thing — What’s one sun habit you wish society would completely shift?
Answer: Outlaw tanning beds.

Question: Tell us your story! (How are you either a Survivor, Warrior or Protector)
Answer: I am a dermatology resident.

Question: The Hardest Lesson — What’s something about skin cancer you wish you had known earlier?
Answer: The high incidence and burden of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Question: A Moment That Changed Everything — Was there a moment that made you realize how serious skin cancer is?
Answer: My father had melanoma and required surgery with adjuvant radiation.

Question: From Fear to Action — How did your perspective on sun safety and skin health change?
Answer: I have grown a deeper understanding of skin cancer through my profession.

Question: Becoming an Advocate — What drives you to spread awareness, and what message do you hope people take to heart?
Answer: The importance of sunscreen and other preventive regimens.

Question: If You Could Change One Thing — What’s one sun habit you wish society would completely shift?
Answer: Utilizing moisturizers with SPF built in.

Question: Misconceptions — What’s the biggest thing people get wrong about having skin cancer?
Answer: You can’t get it if you’re a darker skin complexion.

Question: The Impact of a Shirt — When you wear your Cabana Lifeline shirt, what does it symbolize to you?
Answer: That I am a front-line healthcare provider in the fight against cutaneous malignancies!

Question: Tell us your story! (How are you either a Survivor, Warrior or Protector)
Answer: As a protector, I’m honored to have the privilege of diagnosing and treating melanoma in several patients. Most notably, I remember seeing a suspicious pigmented lesion in an unsheltered male during medical outreach. He had limited means for seeing a doctor, so I worked with our care team to schedule him urgently for further evaluation. His biopsy showed a melanoma in situ, and we were able to get him scheduled for treatment.

Question: The Hardest Lesson — What’s something about skin cancer you wish you had known earlier?
Answer: It can be very sneaky and creep up on you.

Question: A Moment That Changed Everything — Was there a moment that made you realize how serious skin cancer is?
Answer: When I saw the data on the drop in 5-year survival going from stage 1 to stage 2 melanoma.

Question: From Fear to Action — How did your perspective on sun safety and skin health change?
Answer: I began to use sunscreen more regularly and advocate for sun protection with my patients.

Question: Becoming an Advocate — What drives you to spread awareness, and what message do you hope people take to heart?
Answer: I want a world where skin cancer doesn’t exist. A little bit of consistency in sun protection goes a long way!

Question: Unexpected Support — Who or what was the biggest source of strength for you during your journey?
Answer: My best friend Daniel — he inspired me to be a dermatologist.

Question: If You Could Change One Thing — What’s one sun habit you wish society would completely shift?
Answer: Sunbathing and tanning beds.

Question: Misconceptions — What’s the biggest thing people get wrong about having skin cancer?
Answer: Skin cancer likely will not kill you — unless you let it keep growing.

Question: The Impact of a Shirt — When you wear your Cabana Lifeline shirt, what does it symbolize to you?
Answer: It symbolizes my commitment to taking care of patients with skin cancers.