We've launched a War on Melanoma™ to eliminate melanoma as a cause of death
Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, has seen incidence rates increase over the past three decades. Over 96, 000 new cases of melanoma in the U.S. are estimated in 2019 alone, with Oregon ranking in the top 10 of incidence rates in both men and women.
In order to fight this disease, we must take decisive action. When melanomas are detected early, survival rates are great — if undetected, it becomes increasingly fatal over time. The War on Melanoma™ is a comprehensive strategy that will attack melanoma on all fronts, but has a primary focus on this link between early detection of melanoma leading to improved survivorship.
Learn more about specific ways to participate in the War on Melanoma™:
Learn about melanoma
Get involved
Join the Melanoma Community Registry
For skincare professionals
Resources
For medical professionals
The SCAR Project
The SCAR Project is an original portrait series of melanoma survivors and their scars. The project was orchestrated by former OHSU dermatology resident and avid photographer, Dr. Kelly Griffith-Bauer, M.D.
Dr. Bauer during her time in clinic would snap photos to document patient's skin as part of their clinical exams. But as she photographed excision scars who were undergoing treatment for melanoma, she noticed an often negative reaction. "Some tried to hide their scar, some were proud of it. I became fascinated by the dichotomy. But no one liked the photos I took in clinic. They'd say I hate that photo. I hate seeing that photo." She went on to capture higher quality portraits that could better reflect patients and their relationships to their scars. View the Scar project gallery here.
The War on Melanoma™ is an all-fronts effort to eliminate melanoma in Oregon and beyond, brought to you by the OHSU Department of Dermatology and Knight Cancer Institute.
The War on Melanoma™ has launched a public health campaign to get Oregonians to Start Seeing Melanoma™! Visit the Start Seeing Melanoma webpage to learn more.