CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — A Cape Coral man says it took three dermatologists before he was diagnosed with melanoma. Now, he’s sharing his experience as researchers highlight Florida’s skin cancer deaths.
A new study from found men ages 65 and older in Florida experienced melanoma-related death rates roughly twice as high as women during the years studied. The findings, published in the Journal of Geriatric Oncology, are based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data examining skin cancer diagnoses from 2018 to 2021 and deaths from 2018 to 2023.
Researchers say the disparities may reflect differences in lifetime sun exposure, sun-protection habits, skin self-examinations, access to dermatologic care and other behavioral and biological factors.
For Cape Coral resident Josh Boyd, melanoma is more than a statistic.
A mole that went undiagnosed for years
Boyd says he first became concerned about a mole on his arm after multiple doctors pointed it out to him. In 2017, after years of concern and multiple medical evaluations, he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma.
“Every time I met a doctor, I’d shake their hand, and they would point out this mole on my arm,” Boyd said. “They’d say, ‘Hey, that mole doesn’t look good.’”
Boyd said his first dermatologist was not concerned about the mole. A second dermatologist performed a biopsy, but Boyd said the sample was lost. He was later told the results were clear.
Boyd sought a third dermatologist’s opinion.
“He panicked and said, ‘We’re cutting it off right now,’” Boyd recalled.
The diagnosis was malignant melanoma. Boyd said surgeons removed additional tissue from his arm and biopsied a lymph node under his arm to determine whether the cancer had spread.
“Luckily, mine didn’t spread anywhere,” Boyd said. “But, you know, I’d been living with this thing for like five years, and my body didn’t even know.”
Boyd said the experience changed how seriously he takes skin cancer prevention and routine checkups.
Why melanoma can be dangerous
Dr. Brenda Hage, , said melanoma develops in the pigment-producing cells of the skin. Unlike many other skin cancers, it can spread to distant parts of the body.
“Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer because it can spread to distant sites, so it is a very concerning disease,” Hage said. “However, it does have a good prognosis if caught early.”
Hage said excessive ultraviolet exposure is a major risk factor. Florida’s frequent sunshine can increase the opportunity for prolonged sun exposure, particularly for people who spend significant time outdoors.
“One of the risk factors for melanoma is overexposure to sunlight,” she said. “Anybody who’s had a blistering sunburn in their lifetime has an increased risk.”
Hage also pointed to tanning beds and spending time outdoors without adequate sun protection as factors that can increase risk.
The FAU study also found higher diagnosis and mortality rates among white and non-Hispanic populations than among other racial and ethnic groups. Researchers cautioned that differences in access to dermatologic care, health literacy and detection may contribute to those patterns.
What warning signs should you look for?
Hage recommends regular skin checks and learning the ABCDE warning signs of melanoma:
A — Asymmetry: One half of a mole looks different from the other.B — Border: The edges are irregular or uneven.C — Color: The mole has multiple colors or uneven coloring.D — Diameter: The spot is larger than a pencil eraser, although melanoma can be smaller.E — Evolving: The mole changes or evolves in size, shape or color, or otherwise looks different over time.
“A dermatologist would actually do a head-to-toe body audit, and that’s the most effective way of looking for those kinds of lesions,” she said.
She recommends seeing a dermatologist for a skin examination about once a year and performing monthly self-checks. People with a family history of melanoma or other risk factors should discuss an appropriate screening schedule with their health care provider.
How Boyd changed his habits after melanoma
Nearly nine years after his diagnosis, Boyd said he is much more diligent about protecting his skin.
“Since being diagnosed, I definitely wear more sunscreen, long-sleeve, UV shirts, hats, sunglasses, all the sun protection you can think of,” he said.
Hage recommends using broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, reapplying it every two hours, wearing protective clothing and limiting direct sun exposure during peak UV hours.
For Boyd, the biggest lesson is not to dismiss a spot that looks different.
“When you start seeing new moles or new things on your skin you never noticed,” he said, “better just get it checked out.”
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