Abstract:
I didn't think skin cancer was real cancer," says Shonda Schilling, 34, wife of Arizona pitching ace Curt Schilling. But when she learned that 7400 Americans die each year from melanoma like hers, "I started to cry," says this mother of three. After five surgeries on her back, she's cancer-free.

May 5, 2002

The wife of a pitching ace wants you to be aware of the dangers of skin cancer.

`I didn't think skin cancer was real cancer," says Shonda Schilling, 34, wife of Arizona pitching ace Curt Schilling. But when she learned that 7400 Americans die each year from melanoma like hers, "I started to cry," says this mother of three. After five surgeries on her back, she's cancer-free. Still, Mrs. Schilling notes, "there's no guarantee it won't come back." To better her odds, she changed her lifestyle: Shonda only goes to Curt's day games if they're indoors, plays outside with her kids at night, wears special clothing and slathers sunblock on her whole family. "Fashion made it prettier to be tan," she says, "but it doesn't have to be that way." May 6 is Melanoma Monday, a time to do a self-exam for unusual spots. And free skin screenings are available all month. For a location, visit www.aad.org.

Read more about Shonda's battle with Melanoma at USA TODAY

Even better, visit her foundation's website: SHADE Foundation.