Sara McOlvin, who at 23 was diagnosed with melanoma, reflects on her vulnerability to skin cancer due to her fair complexion and family history. Despite being warned by her family about the dangers of sun exposure and the importance of sunscreen, she often neglected to protect her skin, leading to her diagnosis. Dermatologist Dr. Sandra Johnson attributes McOlvin's case to both genetic predispositions and lifestyle factors, underscoring the need for awareness and proactive skin care, especially for those at higher risk, like women under 30 during Skin Cancer Awareness Month.
"I definitely didn't think it would happen that young. I was pretty scared, pretty shocked to hear, 'You have skin cancer' at 23."
"She has very, very fair skin, very light hair. So the genetics of having a family history with melanoma raises her risk and then the genetics of having light hair and light skin greatly increase her risk."
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