MRA Meet-Up: From Skin Checks to Clinic Visits - Understanding Melanoma Prevention

In recognition of Melanoma Awareness Month, MRA hosted a special installment of our patient-focused Meet Up webinar series called “From Skin Checks to Clinic Visits: Understanding Melanoma Prevention.” The session featured Dr. Joshua Arbesman of the Cleveland Clinic, a physician-scientist and leading expert in melanoma risk and prevention, alongside melanoma survivor and patient advocate Leah Adams, an MRA Leadership Councilmember, in conversation with MRA’s Director of Communications and Engagement, Dana Deighton. The discussion explored melanoma prevention, early detection, hereditary risk factors, and how individuals and families can feel more informed and empowered when navigating dermatology visits and skin health.

Dr. Arbesman provided an overview of melanoma, explaining how the disease develops and highlighting its prevalence across different populations. He discussed common risk factors, including UV exposure, skin type, family history, and inherited genetic variants, while emphasizing the importance of early detection and regular skin monitoring. Dr. Arbesman also shared practical prevention strategies, including sun safety habits, routine skin checks, and what patients should know when building a relationship with a dermatologist.

Leah Adams offered a deeply personal perspective on navigating melanoma as both a caregiver and patient, sharing her family’s experience after her father’s Stage IV melanoma diagnosis and her own unexpected stage IA diagnosis at 26. She spoke candidly about the emotional impact of melanoma, adapting to life after diagnosis, and how advocacy, prevention, and education became central to her journey.

The discussion focused on what patients and families should know about melanoma prevention and early detection in practice, including key considerations such as:

• How melanoma develops, including risk factors related to UV exposure, genetics, and skin type
• The importance of routine skin checks, self-exams, and recognizing warning signs such as changing or unusual new spots using the ABCDE guidelines
• What patients can expect during dermatology visits, including biopsies, monitoring, and developing trust with a care team
• Hereditary melanoma risk factors and the role family history and genetics may play in melanoma prevention and screening
• Practical prevention strategies, including sunscreen use, sun-protective clothing, avoiding tanning beds, and navigating tanning culture safely

During an interactive Q&A, participants asked thoughtful questions about sunscreen, balancing sun safety with everyday life, managing anxiety between skin checks, hereditary melanoma risks, and recognizing concerning changes in the skin.

This webinar offered an informative and encouraging discussion on melanoma prevention and early detection, helping patients and caregivers better understand their individual risk, build confidence in navigating dermatology care, and take proactive steps to protect their skin health.

Watch the full recording: