Race day is approaching fast and the last day to pre-register is this Friday, May 21st!  Only pre-registered participants are guaranteed a free race t-shirt and free Jimmy John's sandwich!  We encourage everyone to pre-register and pick up their registration packet at one of the packet pick-up events!

Race Day is Saturday, June 5, 2010
To register or for details regarding the packet pick-up dates and locations please visit our website:
www.monicajensenfoundation.org 

don't fry day!

To help reduce rising rates of skin cancer from overexposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun, the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day, May 28, 2010, as “Don’t Fry Day” to encourage sun safety awareness and to remind everyone to protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors. The action step the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention emphasized for 2009 was “Slap on a Hat,” encouraging everyone to wear protective clothing like a wide-brimmed hat to provide important protection from too much sun. This year the National Council is emphasizing practicing all of the action steps ---because no single step can fully protect from overexposure to UV radiation, so use as many of the following actions as possible.

• Avoid sun burning, intentional tanning, and using tanning beds.
• Apply sunscreen generously.
• Wear sun-protective clothing, wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses.
• Seek shade.
• Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand.
• Get vitamin D through diet and vitamin D supplements.

As warm weather approaches and millions of us prepare to enjoy the great outdoors, the risk for ultraviolet (UV) damage of the skin increases. Skin cancer is on the rise, and the American Cancer Society estimates that one American dies every hour from skin cancer. It is estimated that this year 62,480 cases of malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, and more than one million cases of basal cell or squamous skin cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S.

Melanoma is a form of cancer that begins in cells called "melanocytes". These are the cells that produce melanin - the pigment that gives your skin its color.  Your eyes also contain these pigment cells.  Melanoma may begin in a mole (skin melanoma), but can also begin in other pigmented tissues, such as in the eye (Ocular Melanoma).

We all know the importance of skin protection and protecting ourselves from the sun's rays by wearing hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen.  By now we've all heard of the ABCDE's of Melanoma and how crucial it is to get to know our skin and to recognize any changes in the moles on our bodies.  As melanoma skin cancer is the most common form of melanoma, it is also important for us to be aware and educate ourselves of other forms melanoma.  

Similar to melanoma of the skin, Ocular Melanoma (OM) is a silent killer and is the second most common form of melanoma.  Most people find out they have an OM tumor when they have blurring or even a slight soreness in one of their eyes and go to an optician for a regular eye examination.  OM tumors are quite rare and, as with many forms of cancer, the exact cause is unknown.  Exposure to UV light has been shown to cause melanoma of the skin, and it is also suspected to be a risk factor for eye melanoma.  Even though this has yet to be proven, many doctors recommend regular use of UV blocking sunglasses as a possible measure of prevention.  Other risk factors that cannot be controlled or prevented are eye color and genetics.  People at the highest risk to develop OM are Caucasian with fair skin, have blue (or light colored) eyes (this type of cancer occurs less often in people with brown eyes), and may be more common in people who have atypical mole syndrome. 

Research into treatments for Ocular Melanoma is ongoing and advances are being made.  Cancer doctors use clinical trials to assess new treatments.  Please continue to help us fund these efforts!

SUMMER 2010

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