It's May. Summer is upon us. So is the hot sun. What a perfect time for an awareness month.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. So now is the time to learn a thing or two about a disease that is largely preventable, extremely deadly, and almost 100 percent curable when caught early.

Think about this:

Someone dies of melanoma -- the deadliest form of skin cancer -- every 65 minutes. Women ages 20-29 are most at risk, with melanoma ranking as the second most common cancer in this age group. But anyone, regardless of skin color or age, can develop skin cancer.

More than one million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year -- shocking considering the cause of the disease is no secret: skin cancer is caused mostly by too much sun exposure.

OK, how about some good news?

Skin cancer awareness month doesn't arrive until May, but Olay and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery have already chosen their spokesperson for the 2007 Skin Cancer Takes Friends campaign.

Emmy-nominated Desperate Housewives actress Marcia Cross will kick off a nationwide free skin cancer screening and education initiative to alert Americans about the importance of early detection and prevention in the fight against a disease that has affected her personally.

"I'm proud to be part of a cause that is near and dear to my heart," says Cross. "Having had two family members suffer from melanoma, I've come to understand the importance of skin cancer detection and prevention. Knowing what I know about the dangers of sun exposure, I take extra care to protect myself with a large hat, sunglasses, daily UV protection, and of course, an annual screening."

Cross has become an partner in the crusade against skin cancer so she can encourage people to protect not only themselves but their family members and friends too.

Beginning on April 1, log onto skincancertakesfriends.org to find a dermatologist offering free screenings in your area. Take a friend with you to your screening during the months of May, June, and July and each of you will pay not a penny.

Many people don't know just how dangerous skin cancer can be. Yet it's the most common form of cancer in the United States and the incidence of melanoma -- the deadliest form of the disease -- is rising faster than any other cancer. Right now, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetimes. And every 67 minutes, someone dies of melanoma.

Screening is a must for everyone -- regardless of skin color, ethnicity, age, or geography. So mark your calendar for April 1 if you'd like a free screening. If money is not an issue, make an appointment today.

Admittedly, for years I was a sun worshipper in quest of the perfect golden tan. But I noticed as the years went by the sun was changing, the effects were different, it did not feel as good to be out in the sun for long periods of time. I burned too quickly, tanned far less. I thought it was my imagination, or my age, but I have since learned that the ozone is thinning and the result is an altering in the intensity of the sun's rays. I practice sun safety these days.

When I was telling you about Olay's Bring a Buddy free skin cancer screening campaign, I read a heartbreaking personal story about Dr. Maribeth Bambino Chitkara losing Melissa, her sister, to melanoma at an early age. Who worries about the sun when they are young? I didn't, and most young adults don't. A mole on Melissa's right shoulder had become cancerous, and the cancer had spread to many of the lymph nodes under her arm. Despite treatment, between the two years of skin cancer diagnosis and death, the cancer continued to spread throughout Melissa's body, including her brain. The story, although a very sad one in the loss of a cherished and beloved sister and best friend, I recommend it for reading. The full story can be found here.

May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Become aware and educated about the risks of skin cancer and sun safety. The sun is changing -- the damaging rays increasing in intensity. Even the very young need to be protected, and no one today can afford the risks from a golden tan.

In recognition of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Olay and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, ASDS, is hosting the Bring a Buddy free skin cancer screening campaign. When you go in for your appointment to get checked for skin cancer, bring a friend with you, in a two-for-one special. In May and June, more than 150 dermatology surgeons nationwide will participate in providing free skin cancer screenings for women during the Bring a Buddy program.

Olay would like to remind women that with early detection skin cancer is almost always curable. To find a dermatologist offering free screenings in your area, visit grab a friend and save the skin you're in! at Olay or the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.