Father and daughter share skin cancer stories

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) and his youngest daughter, Briana Bilbray, are speaking out for skin cancer prevention and early detection.

The Bilbrays are serving as SPOTlighters with the American Academy of Dermatology’s SPOT Skin Cancer? public awareness campaign, which focuses on actions people can take to protect themselves from skin cancer.

Visitors to the SPOT Skin Cancer? website can learn how to perform a skin self-exam, download a body mole map to track changes in their skin, and find free skin cancer screenings in their area. Patients with skin cancer can share their story via the website and download educational free materials. The Bilbray family’s video is posted to the official website and the Academy’s YouTube channel.

Briana’s family encouraged her to bring a mole on her shin to her doctor’s attention, which Briana postponed. She was later diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. She has since relapsed twice.

Just two weeks after Briana’s diagnosis, her father was diagnosed with another form of skin cancer – squamous cell carcinoma – which occurred as a white patch on his lip. Rep. Bilbray had surgery to remove the cancer and additional surgery for lip reconstruction.

“It’s absolutely essential that everyone understand it’s our job to detect skin cancer,” said Rep. Bilbray. “Whenever in doubt, go talk to a bNIKE SB