Marilyn Fry, Founder - Melanoma Survivor

SCAN Foundation
Skin Cancer Awareness Network
Promoting Skin Cancer Awareness and Prevention

Marilyn Fry is Founder and CEO of the SCAN Foundation, a nonprofit incorporated in 2006. Marilyn was diagnosed with melanoma in October 1999 after noticing a small blister on her neck. She knew it was there, but like most people didn't really give it a lot of attention. At the time, she didn't know much about skin cancer and couldn't even spell melanoma.

Fortunately for her, she had been to a dermatologist, Dr. Michael Bigby, several years prior to discovering this tiny blister and decided to make an appointment to check it out. After checking the blister, Marilyn was relieved to learn she only had a precancerous basil cell on her neck. By catching it early, he assured her there was virtually no reason to be concerned. While in the office, she decided to go ahead and have him check out some moles she had "always" had on her back. Marilyn recounts, "My mother used to call them beauty marks, so I wasn't particularly concerned." "In fact," she continued, "Two general practitioners within the previous six months had told me the moles looked okay."

Continuing his exam, Dr. Bigby informed Marilyn the mole should be biopsied. "Not being fearful...they were beauty marks - after all, I was thinking this was probably a basil cell, as well. I had no real reason to be concerned. "He did the biopsy and sent the samples to the lab for testing, telling her the results would be back in a few days. "Cancer was the furthest thing on my mind," Marilyn related. "Cancer? Me? No way!"

Five days later, the doctor called Marilyn and gave her the most shocking news of her life. She had malignant melanoma. "I had no idea what that meant," she said, "but - believe me - I was scared. All I could think of was of chemotherapy, loosing my hair, and dying...I couldn't have cancer!"

The following month, Marilyn had an operation to remove the mole and surrounding skin area - leaving a six inch scar. The good news is that her melanomas had not metastasized or spread into the lymph nodes and the surgery would be able to remove all the tissue surrounding the cancerous cells.

In May 2002, three years later, Marilyn organized a "Skin Cancer Awareness" Day for employees of Delta Air Lines. Since then, her programs have screened more than 1,200 people - discovered two melanomas and a number of pre-cancerous spots. Lives were saved. It was then she decided to dedicate her full efforts to the education and prevention of skin cancer. "I want to promote healthy sun exposure and try to help others - just like me - to avoid the scare I had gone through," Marilyn states. "I was one of the lucky ones. Because we still don't take skin cancer seriously, in the United States, there are more than 1 million new skin cancers diagnosed each year with approximately 10,000 of those people dying. In fact, one person dies of skin cancer every 67 minutes," she stated.

Marilyn's Background

As a child, she was a swimmer, diver, and life guard; always in the sun; never using any protection. She went to the beach a lot and even used tanning lamps, (this was before tanning beds). To get more sun, she would put Iodine in baby oil to attract the sun, used sun mirrors, and even planned her days at the beach to be out there between the most harmful hours between 10-4 so she could get the most sun. Tan was - and still is - cool. It makes you look better. Tans were a sign she had been at the beach or sporting in the sun, having fun! As a child, she attended summer camp and even served as a camp counselor during college. Marilyn was always trying to get as much sun as she could so she would be "cool." Little did she know the damage she was causing to her skin.

Marilyn considers herself very lucky to have caught her skin cancer early and stopping it from spreading. Her purpose in life now is to create a nationally recognized event attracting dermatologists and medical educators to help educate others about the harmful dangers of excessive sun exposure and to teach individuals and other medical professionals simple safety measures to avoid skin cancer. SCAN will also generate funds for skin cancer research in pursuit of a cure for skin cancer.

This has changed her life. She still enjoys the sun, but she plays smarter now. Two years ago Marilyn took up scuba diving and spends hours each summer swimming with her nieces. She plays golf and enjoys other outdoor activities. But today, she avoids the harsh sun between 10-4, uses correct sunscreen and protective clothing - such as hats, jackets, sunglasses, and umbrellas. Marilyn, like so many others, has already done a tremendous amount of damage to her skin. However, by taking precautions and having periodic checkups with a dermatologist, she expects to be spending a lot more time in the sun - only this time, safely!