In September, 2010, one day before her 21st birthday, my daughter Jillian was diagnosed with stage IV Melanoma.
Melanoma is the deadlist form of skin cancer, and has become an epidemic in young people. Research shows indoor tanning increases a person's melanoma risk by 75 percent. Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for 25-29-year-olds and the second most common form of cancer for 15-29-year-olds. UV radiation from the sun and tanning beds also has been associated with non-melanoma skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, as well as wrinkles and age spots. .