Becoming a skin cancer survivor is not just about defeating a disease; it’s about transitioning from one phase of your life to another. Many melanoma survivors we’ve talked to have said that transitioning into survivorship, despite being the best possible outcome, has its own unique challenges. Suddenly, the care team that had been seeing them regularly is no longer part of their life. And then there’s scanxiety, or the anxiety that many people struggle with when it’s time for their annual maintenance scans.
Kathy Barnard, founder of Save Your Skin Foundation, understands this all too well as she is herself a melanoma stage 4 survivor. That’s why, when she decided to start Save Your Skin Foundation in 2006, she knew she wanted to make sure the foundation supported skin cancer patients throughout the whole continuum of their journey, including survivorship. She also wanted to help survivors and patients connect with each other so they would feel less alone in their journey.
This blog post will give you an overview of the resources we’ve developed to support melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer survivors. We hope you will find something that can help you on your journey.
Resources for Skin Cancer Survivors
Survivorship Resources
Our Survivorship page lists several resources created specifically for cancer survivors.
Self-Care After Cancer
Our Self-Care After Cancer page offers tons of information for those in remission, including a Q&A that answers common questions asked by new skin cancer survivors.
I’m Living Proof
I’m Living Proof is an interactive map that allows you to find other skin cancer survivors. Simply click on a star to read their story. You can even request to connect with them if you would like to know more or ask a question. We hope these stories of strength and resilience will offer you support and inspiration as you navigate your own path.
Monthly Fireside Chats
Join our Monthly Patient Fireside Chats which have a small standing group of core hosts & new topics every first Thursday of the month. These informal chats are open to patients, survivors, caregivers and family members touched by melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer, and ocular melanoma. They are discussions about life after a cancer diagnosis, including sharing experiences with treatment options, survivorship, navigating the healthcare system, and any other concern that you might have. It is also a great opportunity to meet other patients and survivors from across Canada.
Webinars
Save your Skin Foundation webinars are a great way to stay up-to-date by listening to patients, survivors, doctors, and pharmaceutical company executives discuss the melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer, and ocular melanoma landscape. Each webinar features a variety of experts and discusses a different topic.
One-on-one Support
Transitioning into survivorship has its own challenges. Save Your Skin Foundation wishes to bring support to all those in remission. We invite all ocular melanoma, melanoma, and non-melanoma skin cancer patients, at any stage, to get in touch.
As you navigate the complex landscape of life after skin cancer treatment, remember that you are not alone. We invite you to connect with us and fellow survivors, and to help us in creating a community where hope and resilience abound as you embrace this new chapter in your journey.
