Monaghan concedes her sun-soaked childhood was not exactly prime time for protecting her skin
White Lotus star Michelle Monaghan got her skin cancer removed more than a decade ago, but the actor feels there is not enough awareness about the deadly disease. The 49-year-old has been an advocate for skin cancer education and sun protection and has called on the US Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, to enforce rules against cancer-causing tanning beds.
Monaghan, who grew up in Winthrop, Iowa, said she worked in the fields in all kinds of weather and never thought sun protection had to be a priority. “I don’t recall ever using sunscreen as a kid,” she said in an earlier interview. “Our intention was to always get a tan over the summer school break. We thought, ‘It’s cold for seven months out of the year, so let’s get some sun-kissed skin while we can.’ Never mind doing it responsibly,” Monaghan added.
Combined with a few trips to the tanning salon before prom, Monaghan concedes her sun-soaked childhood was not exactly prime time for protecting her skin. “I definitely take responsibility for not having proper skin health as a young person, and we know that’s when a lot of the sun damage occurs.”
That caused a few changes in the shape of a mole on Monaghan’s leg—which she did not initially take seriously till her husband—who is Australian—insisted on getting it checked. “There’s a high rate of skin cancer in Australia, so he had been educated about it in school. They learnt the importance of applying sunscreen regularly, protecting their skin, and the ABCDEs of melanoma,” Monaghan says.
She was then diagnosed with melanoma - a dangerous type of skin cancer that develops from melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, and is more likely to spread than other types of skin cancer. The Kiss Kiss Bang Bang star then underwent an excisional surgery to remove the tumour to make sure there were no cancerous cells left.
“I now see a dermatologist twice a year. I get a mole or two removed (and checked) most years just as a precautionary measure. I’d rather be safe than sorry — I don’t want a repeat performance!”
What is melanoma?
Also known as a black tumour, melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. According to experts, it grows quickly and has the ability to spread to any organ. So, it is important to pay attention to changes in your skin because the majority of melanomas do not start as moles. However, how many moles you have may help predict your skin’s risk of developing melanoma.
It is also important to know if you are in a high-risk group for developing melanoma because of their fast growth rate.
What causes melanoma?
Most experts say that a major risk factor for melanoma is overexposure to sunlight - especially sunburns when you are young. According to data, at least 86 per cent of melanomas are caused by solar ultraviolet rays. UV exposure causes damage to a cell’s DNA, making changes to particular genes that affect how cells grow and divide. The potential for problems comes when your skin's DNA is damaged and those cells start reproducing.
UV radiation from tanning beds also increases the risk of melanoma and has been designated as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization.
Signs and symptoms of melanoma
A few early signs of melanoma include:
When your mole is asymmetrical, and one half does not match the other half
The edges of the mole are not smooth
The colour is mottled and uneven, with shades of brown, black, grey, red, or white.
You notice the spot changes in size, shape, or colour
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