Skin Care Behaviors Among Melanoma Survivors and Their Families

This study is investigating a method to positively influence skin cancer prevention behaviors among melanoma survivors and their families. The first objective is to compare patient and familial sun exposure and cancer screening activity before and after a patient's diagnosis with primary cutaneous melanoma less than 4.0 mm in depth. It is believed that the diagnosis will positively affect behavior regarding skin cancer prevention as the diagnosis of melanoma makes the risk associated with sun-exposure and skin cancer a tangible issue. The second objective is to test whether receiving a "Melanoma Survivor" plaque and posting it in a melanoma survivor's bathroom will significantly affect the survivor's and broader family's sun exposure and cancer screening activity. Marketing research has shown similar techniques have been effective in causing individuals to consume goods (e.g. getting free pens with company logos makes you more likely to buy goods from that company), and the investigators think such techniques are transferable into the field of public health.