Our Passion for Skin Cancer Prevention
As seen in the May 2023 issue of Cincinnati Magazine.
Dr. Mona S. Foad and Dr. Alexandra Bowles from Mona Dermatology in Kenwood share how they found their passion for preventative care and why you should be getting your skin checked annually.
Dr. Mona Foad
I remember it like it was yesterday. I walked into the patient room, where I was greeted by a friendly middle aged man with a big smile. He was a little nervous because he had never had a complete skin exam before and was worried about a spot on his back he was told had changed. I started looking at his skin, but my heart sank once I got to his back. Immediately, I biopsied the red, black and brown 1 cm growth staring at me, and hoped that this was not the melanoma I suspected. I wish I had been wrong.
Over the next year, I saw him every 3 months for skin exams and read the reports from his oncologist. I know he fought this disease, but in the end, it was a fight he could not win. Melanoma can be a fatal disease, but with yearly skin exams, we can catch atypical moles, melanomas and other skin cancers before they have a chance to evolve and cause devastation. I may not be able to bring him back to his family and loved ones, but I hope I can encourage people to get yearly skin exams and be aware that early detection is the key.
Dr. Alexandra Bowles
Knowing the signs and symptoms of skin cancer is vital! Living and training in Miami, Florida strengthened my passion for skin cancer prevention. It provided me with intense exposure to the diagnosis and treatment of various skin cancers. I love seeing my patients learn and embrace new habits to be more sun safe, especially after a skin cancer diagnosis. Educating my patients on how to be sun safe is one of my favorite parts of dermatology!
Regardless of skin type, everyone can benefit from learning how to care for our skin properly. It always begins with protecting it from the sun. Wearing sunscreen, utilizing SPF protective clothing, getting annual skin exams, and limiting sun exposure during the time of day with the highest UV index are a few great ways to be sun safe. I can’t wait to bring my experience and passion for dermatology to the patients of Cincinnati!
Fast Facts:
- 1 in 5 people will develop skin cancer by the age of 70
- Having 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk of melanoma
- When detected early, the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 99%
*Facts via Skin Cancer Foundation
Visit monadermatology.com to schedule your yearly complete skin exam or learn more about skin cancer prevention.