Nurse Ilia Smith Educates Audience About Skin Cancer on The Today Show

Ilia Smith, a nurse practitioner in Dallas, Texas, recently appeared on the Today Show’s Melanoma Monday segment, discussing the warning signs of skin cancer.

After discovering the dark spot she had on her hip for years was a malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, and having it successfully treated, Smith is educating the public about checking themselves to make sure moles, birthmarks, or freckles are not cancerous.

Daily Nurse is proud to honor Smith as our Nurse of the Week for educating people about the warning signs of skin cancer and the importance of regular skin checks from a doctor.

Smith Talks About ABCDEs of Melanoma

On the Today Show, Smith spoke with the hosts about becoming familiar with the ABCDEs of melanoma — warning signs that a mole is cancerous.

Smith was relieved that her cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes, meaning she didn’t need chemotherapy.

She had surgery to remove the cancerous spot, plus three inches of skin around it. Doctors went 1.5 inches deep into her flesh to ensure clean margins. Then, a plastic surgeon helped repair the wound on her hip.

Smith says she now gets skin checks four times a year to ensure there are no other suspicious spots and wears sunscreen with SPF 50 when she goes outside and sun-protective clothing that covers her arms when she runs. When she goes to the pool, she stays in the shade and wears a hat in addition to using sunscreen.

“As an African-American nurse practitioner, I love educating the public,” says Smith. “Look at yourself. Make sure those little moles or birthmarks or freckles are not changing because those are the things that you want to watch out for.”

Nominate a Nurse of the Week! Every Wednesday, DailyNurse.com features a nurse making a difference in the lives of their patients, students, and colleagues. We encourage you to nominate a nurse who has impacted your life as the next Nurse of the Week, and we’ll feature them online and in our weekly newsletter.

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Renee Hewitt

Editor & Content Strategist at Springer Publishing

Renee is the editor and content strategist for Daily Nurse. When enjoying life unplugged from the digital world, you'll find Renee on a trail taking wildlife photos or birdwatching.