In spring of 1999, he found a malignant mole on his body. After having it removed, he set out to educate people about the dangers of skin cancer and the simple steps people can take to try and prevent it. The American Cancer Society estimates approximately 1.3 million new cases of non-malignant melanoma and over 47,000 cases of malignant melanoma will be diagnosed this year. Freckles and moles are examples of non-malignant melanoma. This type of skin cancer is easily treated and rarely fatal.
Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells in a person's body divide uncontrollably forming tumors.
These could be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors are not cancerous and if once removed, hardly ever come back. Malignant tumors, however, are cancerous and fatal if not removed. Through a grant from the Border Health Foundation, a non-profit group based in El Paso, Forshaw started his research and information campaign, which includes several surveys and a poll. Forshaw said various conditions contribute to the Southwest's high incidence of skin cancer.