James Goydos

As we remember those who have fallen, we should also remember another casualty of war – skin cancer Memorial Day has an important place in American history. It is the one day of the year which is set aside for our nation to memorialize those who have lost their lives in the performance of their military duties. It was first celebrated in 1868, then known as ‘Decoration Day’, and has become a prominent fixture in American culture to this day.

Skin cancer does not discriminate. Knowing your risk may save your life. As May comes to a close, this marks the end of melanoma and skin cancer awareness month. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in humans. Cases of skin cancer have been on the rise, likely due to a combination of factors. Improvements in access to cancer screening, global pollution and heightened UV exposure, longevity, and more variables may help to explain the increase in skin cancer.

Home / Featured Content / Insights From an Ice Storm 26 Years Ago and Random Acts of Human Kindness From July 1993 through June 1995, I was living in Pittsburgh doing a surgical oncology fellowship while my wife was living in Philadelphia in a maternal and fetal medicine fellowship. This meant living apart for the first three years of marriage and so I took many long trips down the Pennsylvania Turnpike from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia to spend time with my wife.