Pensacola News Journal: Teen cancer survivor, TCU freshman, inspires others with talent, videos
Andy Metzger, News Journal correspondent
Eighteen-year-old Mare’ Mossholder dreams of becoming a film actor, but it may be that her most important video footage in recent years was not shot at one of the acting intensives she has attended out in Los Angeles. It is footage taken of her creating a pair of awareness videos on the subject of melanoma.
It was a little over two years ago when — as a sophomore at Gulf Breeze High School — Mossholder was diagnosed with melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer that accounts for so many deaths, often among people age 15 to 29. Mossholder’s illness was the result of genetics, but most cases of melanoma are caused by exposure to the sun and spending time in tanning beds.
“I made the videos because I wanted to make people aware of how dangerous melanoma is,†Mossholder said. “With my melanoma, it was something genetic. I’ve never been in a tanning bed and I’ve also never had a tanning day at the beach, which a lot of people do. Because Gulf Breeze is a beach town, it’s much easier to be exposed to the sun for longer periods of time and people need to know they should apply sunscreen. Tan skin can be a status symbol and people think it looks more attractive, but melanoma can kill.â€
Mossholder was also quick to dispel the myth that people with darker skin pigmentation are safe from melanoma. …
Read the rest at http://www.pnj.com/s…ideos/80011224/