FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Westminster, Md. – May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and in an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of overexposure to the sun, The Learning Center at Carroll Hospital Center is sponsoring “Melanoma Monday,” May 3, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Along with a free skin analysis test, which visualizes sun damage to the face, the evening’s activities include a presentation about the latest in skin cancer prevention and treatment by Donald Coker, M.D., surgical oncologist at Carroll Hospital Center, and guest speaker Denise Safko will discuss how the loss of her mother, Joanna Nicolay, to the disease inspired the creation of the Finksburg-based Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation, and what others can do to help in this critical fight. Educational materials about skin cancer and door prizes will also be available. Registration is required. Please call 410-848-2244. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, the fastest growing type of cancer in the U.S., especially in those under the age of 35. Melanoma often strikes moles on the skin and it is highly curable if caught early. But the disease is most dangerous if the cancerous moles aren't discovered until the tumors have spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma Monday was established eight years ago by the American Academy of Dermatology to bring attention to the disease and encourage a life-long habit of regular skin self-examinations. The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation is Maryland’s first organization devoted to fight melanoma. Founded in 1961 as Carroll County General Hospital, Carroll Hospital Center is a nonprofit, acute care facility offering a continuum of services, including comprehensive inpatient, outpatient and community programs. ###