Message from the CEO, Falyn Katz
At Melanoma Canada, our mission has always been clear: to support patients and caregivers, advocate for access to the best possible treatments, and lead the way in education and prevention. This season, I’m proud to share several exciting initiatives that reflect our continued commitment to supporting the melanoma and skin cancer community.
Introducing SpotCast — Our New Podcast
We are thrilled to announce the launch of SpotCast, Melanoma Canada’s new podcast designed to inform, empower, and connect. Through engaging conversations with medical experts, patient advocates, and individuals with lived experience, SpotCast brings timely, relevant insights directly to our community. Whether you are newly diagnosed, a caregiver, or a healthcare professional, this platform is built to provide accessible, trustworthy information and meaningful stories that resonate.
Listening to Our Community
Delivering best-in-class programs starts with listening. That’s why we recently conducted comprehensive surveys among patients and caregivers to better understand your needs, challenges, and priorities. The feedback has been invaluable and will directly shape the evolution of our support services and education resources, ensuring they remain responsive, impactful, and aligned with what matters most to you.
Advocating for Access to Treatment
Advocacy remains at the core of our work. We have made formal submissions to both INESSS (Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux) and the CDA (Canada Drug Agency), reinforcing the urgent need for equitable access to the most advanced melanoma treatments. These efforts are critical to ensuring that all Canadians, regardless of where they live, can benefit from the latest innovations in care.
Bringing Global Insights Home
Our recent participation at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Conference allowed us to connect with leading experts from around the world, including our friends at the Canadian Dermatology Association and gather the latest research, treatment updates, and educational resources. We are excited to translate these global insights into meaningful tools and information for our Canadian community.
Expanding Impact Through Community Engagement
This winter, we hosted 7 Summits for Skin Cancer. This virtual fundraising challenge not only raised essential funds to support our programs but also served as powerful platforms to promote winter sun safety and awareness, an often overlooked but critical component of skin cancer prevention.
Together, these initiatives represent more than progress—they reflect a growing, connected community driven by knowledge, compassion, and purpose. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Your trust, engagement, and support make everything we do possible. Times are challenging in the charitable sector, but when we come together, there’s nothing we can’t do!
Looking Ahead – Awareness Month
As we start Melanoma Awareness Month, I hope you feel as empowered as I do by the progress we have made and continue to make. I look forward to the Mole Mobiles hitting the road this month, to Strides Walk for Melanoma, and Smash Out Skin Cancer and Golf & Grill Tournaments later this year. I hope you’ll join us and get involved.
Warm regards,
Falyn Katz
CEO, Melanoma Canada
P.S. While sun safety is a year-round necessity, here are some tips you might find useful as the warm weather arrives.
- Sunscreen – use any that you like! Ideally SPF 50+ look for UVA/UVB board spectrum. Apply every 2 hours or more often if swimming or sweating.
- Cover Up – ideally with UPF apparel or a thick woven fabric. Wear a broad-brimmed hat, and UV protective sunglasses
- Seek Shade – During peak UV hours (between 11am-3pm)
