Beverly Kearney's life is all about speed and winning. She's the legendary head coach of the University of Texas women's track and field team. Under her leadership, the Longhorns have claimed six national 
As soon as her mother's car pulled away, Cathy Harper Lee always counted the blades of grass on the lawn. She hoped to reach a high number. That meant a few moments alone before her step-father ordered her inside. 
February 5, 2010
At the age of 17, Meghan Rothschild started visiting tanning salons to darken her fair skin and "look like everyone else." She used tanning beds once a week for two and a half years, and then came the devastating diagnosis.
Aged only 20, Rothschild was diagnosed with stage II melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. Although she is now cured and thriving, she has to watch every mole and undergo regular screenings, according to her profile on the website of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
She has also inspired young people, such as college freshman Jillian Saley, to take the no-tanning pledge to stay out of tanning beds for proms and Spring Break.
"I want people to understand how serious skin cancer is. I had drainage tubes in me. I couldn't lift anything over 20 pounds for six months," she said, quoted by the news provider.
"Make sure you see a dermatologist if you notice anything changing, growing or bleeding on your skin," she added.
ADD warns that more than 1 million Americans are diagnosed and 11,000 die each year of skin cancer, although it has a cure rate of 99 percent.
As prevention is the best way to minimize the risk, everyone, but especially those with fair skin and who burn easily, are advised to wear sunscreen or protective clothing while outdoors and limit the amount of time they spend sunbathing.
Other educational and informational resources available to survivors include those offered by the National Cancer Institute and the Skin Cancer Foundation.
