Episode #20: The Cancer That Has No Symptoms with Dr. Ron Shore
Main Takeaways From This Episode:
1. Melanoma is often silent until it’s advanced.
Unlike many cancers, early-stage melanoma usually doesn’t itch, hurt, or bleed. Because it often has no warning signs, routine skin exams are essential for catching it before it spreads.
2. Professional skin screenings can save lives.
Dr. Ron Shore’s 34-year screening program has demonstrated the power of early detection, identifying thousands of skin cancers—including more than 200 melanomas—when they were most treatable. Regular screenings are especially important for people at higher risk.
3. Prevention and early action go hand in hand.
Protecting your skin from UV exposure, knowing your personal risk factors, and seeing a dermatologist if you notice a new or changing spot are simple steps that can make a lifesaving difference.
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Why regular skin cancer screenings could save your life
Most cancers give us warning signs: A persistent cough. A lump. Pain. Unexplained weight loss.
But melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is often different. In its earliest stages, melanoma typically doesn’t itch. It doesn’t bleed. It doesn’t hurt. It often develops quietly, without symptoms, giving people little reason to think anything is wrong. By the time they notice a change, the cancer may have already spread.
That’s why dermatologist Dr. Ron Shore has spent more than three decades championing one simple message: don’t wait for symptoms. Find skin cancer before it finds you.
The hidden danger of melanoma
The good news? When melanoma is detected before it penetrates deeply into the skin or metastasizes, survival rates are exceptionally high.
“Early melanomas have no symptoms,” Dr. Shore explains. “They don’t itch, they don’t bleed, they don’t hurt—they’re silent.”
Unfortunately, many people assume that if nothing is bothering them, nothing is wrong. That assumption can be deadly.
Thirty-four years of proving early detection works
Throughout more than 34 years of clinical practice, Dr. Shore and his team have built their approach around one principle: detect skin cancer as early as possible. Their experience is remarkable.
Over approximately 28,000 comprehensive skin examinations, the practice has diagnosed more than 6,000 skin cancers, including more than 200 melanomas.
Most importantly, melanomas identified through their routine screening program were found in their earliest stages, when treatment is most effective.
The lesson is clear: regular skin examinations don’t simply identify cancer. They create opportunities to stop it before it becomes life-threatening.
Why waiting for symptoms doesn’t work
One of the biggest misconceptions about skin cancer is that people will notice when something is wrong. In reality, that’s often not the case.
Many melanomas develop in areas people rarely examine, especially on the backs of men. Others look harmless during their earliest stages.
As Dr. Shore notes, patients frequently tell him they delayed making an appointment because “nothing bothered me.” But that’s exactly the problem.
By the time a melanoma begins to itch, bleed, or cause discomfort, it may already be much more advanced than when it first appeared.
Early detection depends on looking, not waiting.
Who should consider regular skin exams?
Like with most cancers, not everyone faces the same level of risk.
According to Dr. Shore, people who may benefit most from routine professional skin examinations include those who:
- Have experienced frequent or severe sunburns in their lifetime
- Spend significant time outdoors for work or recreation
- Have numerous or unusual-looking moles
- Have a family history of melanoma
- Have previously been diagnosed with skin cancer
- Are over age 50, particularly with decades of cumulative sun exposure
For higher-risk individuals, annual skin examinations, and in some cases exams every six months, can help identify concerning changes before they become dangerous.
Why self-exams aren’t enough
Many public health messages encourage people to perform regular skin self-examinations. While becoming familiar with your skin is important, Dr. Shore believes self-exams should complement, not replace, professional evaluations. In his practice, only about one in five early melanomas were identified by patients themselves. Many cancers appeared in locations patients couldn’t easily see, or looked so subtle they weren’t recognized as dangerous.
Professional skin examinations provide a second set of trained eyes to identify changes that may otherwise go unnoticed.
5 ways to lower your skin cancer risk according to Board-certified Dermatologist, Ron Shore:
While no strategy can completely eliminate the risk of skin cancer, Dr. Shore recommends several practical steps everyone should take to eliminate skin cancer-related deaths.
1. Schedule regular professional skin examinations
Especially if you have significant risk factors, don’t wait until something changes.
2. Return for follow-up appointments
Skin changes over time. Keeping recommended follow-up appointments helps catch new lesions early.
3. Protect your skin from ultraviolet radiation
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50 when spending extended time outdoors, wear protective clothing, and avoid sunburn whenever possible.
4. Encourage loved ones to get screened
Older family members who accumulated years of sun exposure before sunscreen became commonplace may face greater risk than they realize.
5. Don’t ignore new or unusual spots
If a mole changes, looks dramatically different from your other moles, or simply doesn’t seem right, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist.
Early Detection Saves Lives
Cancer research continues to improve treatments for advanced melanoma through immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and precision medicine. Preventing advanced disease remains one of the most powerful tools we have.
Regular screening, sun protection, and greater public awareness can help more people receive a diagnosis while melanoma is still highly treatable. As Dr. Shore reminds us, the goal isn’t simply to find cancer, it’s to find it early enough that treatment can stop it before it ever becomes life-threatening.
Listen to the Full Conversation
Hear more of Dr. Ron Shore’s insights on melanoma, early detection, sunscreen myths, and professional skin examinations in this episode of All Things Cancer, the National Foundation for Cancer Research’s podcast exploring the latest advances in cancer research and prevention.
About All Things Cancer
Each episode of All Things Cancer will spotlight the most pressing topics in oncology, from cutting-edge treatments and emerging research to personal stories of resilience and hope. More than just a podcast, it’s a platform for raising awareness, advancing cancer education, and fostering a global community of support and collaboration.
Hosted by NFCR CEO, Sujuan Ba, Ph.D., this compelling series will bring together the entire ecosystem of cancer research—including leading scientists, oncologists, doctors, patient advocates, caregivers, biotech innovators, and survivors—for powerful discussions on the breakthroughs shaping the future of cancer research, treatment, and care.
All Things Cancer is now available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with new episodes released biweekly.
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