Filed under: Skin Cancer , Daily news Last Tuesday night, I watched Greta Van Susteren of Fox News' On The Record as she interviewed Brittany Lietz, Miss Maryland 2006. Greta asked Brittany what her Miss Maryland job entails. Brittany told Greta her full-time job is to represent her platform -- skin cancer. Brittany didn't choose just any topic for her platform. She chose one that is entirely personal. Skin cancer has left more than 20 scars on Brittany's body. One, on her back, marks the site where a stage two melanoma was removed when she was just 19 years old. It presented as a mole, a little smaller than a nickel, she says. In all likelihood, the cancer was caused by two years of tanning bed use. Brittany says she probably tanned every day for two years. Her pursuit of bronzed skin began when she was 17 and wanted a tan for her prom. It ended after doctors told her she had cancer. Brittany's cancer was caught early and both she and her dermatologist believe her prognosis is good. Between Brittany's vigilant monitoring of her own skin and her every-three-month doctor visits, anything suspicious that pops up will surely be detected. Greta asked Brittany's dermatologist what it is about skin cancer that we just don't get. Here is what she said: UV radiation is a carcinogen . Why do we not get this? The sun -- and its simulated forms -- cause cancer. Plain and simple. No further explanation necessary. Got it? Permalink     Email this     Linking Blogs     Comments