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From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n
Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead more<\/span><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhen you\u2019re waiting to learn whether or not you have cancer, it\u2019s fairly easy to assume the worst.<\/p>\n
Everyone knows someone whose life has been touched by cancer – and there\u2019s no escaping the many factors that leave us at an increased risk of developing the chronic disease. The risk is in the water we drink, the food we eat, the air we breathe and the rays of sun that kiss our face in the mornings. <\/p>\n
More than two million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with skin cancer – the most common type of cancer – and over 626,000 are projected to die from it this year alone, according to the American Cancer Society. <\/p>\n
All of these statistics add up to a fairly good chance of developing skin cancer, along with my history of running outside, my love of going to the beach, my glasses of wine with dinner and my consumption of Cheetos, which are laced with brightly-colored food dyes. <\/p>\n
But what was swirling around in my head as I waited for the results of my biopsy last December wasn\u2019t what I did wrong, it was what I had yet to do, what I would have to face and, above all, how to tell my parents over the Christmas holiday.<\/p>\n
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open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>The Independent’s Julia Musto poses for a photo on Thanksgiving Day 2025, the first day she noticed the lowermost mole on her left cheek had changed (Julia Musto\/The Independent)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe team at NYU Langone Health\u2019s Perlmutter Cancer Center was concerned enough about the mole on my left cheek to scoop it out of my face.<\/p>\n
If they said that the sample showed what I feared was the beginning signs of melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer, affecting an estimated 112,000 this year – my life would likely have to change very quickly. <\/p>\n
I\u2019d felt more tired than usual, but that could be due to a host of issues. Although this wasn\u2019t my first scare. I\u2019d had cells that were weird in my cervix in previous years.<\/p>\n
I started making small lifestyle changes after first noticing that the mole had changed, growing and darkening in color and beginning to itch, scab and hurt.<\/p>\n
Even though it was around Thanksgiving, I stopped drinking alcohol, was eating more whole foods, drinking more water and getting more sleep.<\/p>\n
Obviously, that wouldn\u2019t reverse the suspected cancer; only treatment or surgery could eradicate it, if we had caught it early enough. But maybe it would help keep the rest of my body as healthy as possible while I fought the effects of melanoma. <\/p>\n
\n
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open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>The Independent’s Julia Musto takes a selfie in her hospital gown before the biopsy (Julia Musto\/The Independent)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nI got the call on the way out the door of my office about a week after the biopsy. The cells from the mole were not quite melanoma, but had features that could lead to it. <\/p>\n
My doctor said not to worry, and to monitor the area. We would check back in a year, unless the area started to change again. <\/p>\n
It was a relief – but not quite as relieving as if the whole thing had just been a mistake – even with the hole in my face.<\/p>\n
I got lucky. Yet, an estimated 46,600 women will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2026. Some 8,510 people are anticipated to die of the disease, the American Cancer Society says.<\/p>\n
While rates have declined by one percent a year in men younger than 50, the rates have been stable among women. This is because the female hormone estrogen triggers the production of melanin-making cells, women use tanning salons more than men and women also get screened more than men.<\/p>\n
Beyond just being a woman, having red hair and fairer skin is also a major risk factor. Although all types of skin are at risk from dangerous UV radiation, the Skin Cancer Foundation said in a link shared with The Independent<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n
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open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Musto’s mole (bottom center) is seen before the changes (Julia Musto\/The Independent)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Musto’s mole (bottom center) is seen after the changes (Julia Musto\/The Independent)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nLegendary Jamaican musician Bob Marley died from melanoma in 1981 at age 36.<\/p>\n
Working outside, getting a sunburn, having a family history of melanoma or having an organ transplant also put people at a greater risk. <\/p>\n
Organ transplant patients are at up to a 100 times higher risk for developing skin cancer compared to others because they are on medications that suppress the immune system, UCSF Health notes.<\/p>\n
And though both tanning beds and the sun are sources of harmful ultraviolet radiation that can damage skin cell DNA and cause cancer – tanning beds are much worse. They emit around 12 times more radiation than the sun, raising the risk of developing malignant melanoma by 75 percent, according to UnityPoint Health.<\/p>\n
Still, it only takes 15 minutes to damage skin, Hartford Heathcare says, and the risk increases as we age. The average age of people diagnosed with melanoma is 66, the society notes, and the foundation says that 20 percent of Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>It only takes 15 minutes for people develop skin damage from the sun\u2019s harsh ultraviolet rays (AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nI don\u2019t have a family history of melanoma and I\u2019ve never had an organ transplant, but I\u2019ve definitely had one of those painful, lobster-red sunburns and I train for races along New York City\u2019s Hudson River during the summer. Water reflects UV rays like a mirror, meaning that you\u2019re being exposed from above and below.<\/p>\n
When skin cancer is detected early, 99 percent of patients are alive for five years following diagnosis, the foundation says.<\/p>\n
So people should examine their skin once a month, looking for any mole or growth that has increased in size and appears tan, brown, black, multicolored or pearly. An open sore that does not heal within three weeks can be a sign of skin cancer, as well as a spot that continues to itch, crust, scab, hurt or bleed.<\/p>\n
Some signs of cancer could also be lurking under nail polish or hair – as well as in areas that don\u2019t see any sun – so people at a higher risk for skin cancer should also see a doctor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe encourage everyone to make skin self-exams a regular habit including checking your skin regularly and talking with your doctor about any persistent changes,\u201d Dr. Laura Makaroff, Senior Vice President of Prevention and Early Detection at the American Cancer Society, said in a statement shared with The <\/em>Independent<\/em>. \u201cCatching changes early can make all the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more When you\u2019re waiting to learn whether or not you have cancer, it\u2019s fairly easy to assume the worst. Everyone knows someone whose life has been touched by cancer – and there\u2019s no escaping the many factors that leave us at an increased risk of developing the chronic disease. The risk is in the water we drink, the food we eat, the air we breathe and the rays of sun that kiss our face in the mornings. More than two million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with skin cancer – the most common type of cancer – and over 626,000 are projected to die from it this year alone, according to the American Cancer Society. All of these statistics add up to a fairly good chance of developing skin cancer, along with my history of running outside, my love of going to the beach, my glasses of wine with dinner and my consumption of Cheetos, which are laced with brightly-colored food dyes. But what was swirling around in my head as I waited for the results of my biopsy last December wasn\u2019t what I did wrong, it was wha…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13012,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13011"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13011"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13011\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}