What You Should Know
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the US. There are three types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Over 1 million Americans are diagnosed each year with nonmelanoma skin cancer; this year, almost 60,000 cases of melanoma skin cancer will be diagnosed and over 10,000 people will die of their disease. While these are sobering statistics about this malignancy, the good news is that most skin cancer can be prevented. That's because sun exposure accounts for most of the skin cancer seen throughout the world. While we may need the sun for light and warmth, we certainly don't need its skin damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation. By learning "sun sense" and limiting exposure to UV radiation, you can reduce your risk of skin cancer. Two good places for more information on skin cancer at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health at
www.cancer.gov and the American Cancer Society at
www.cancer.org.
Risk Factors
- Unprotected or overexposure to UV radiation
- Severe childhood sunburns
- Multiple or unusual moles
- Fair complexion
- Family history
- Occupational exposure to coal tar, creosote, pitch, radium, or arsenic compounds
Signs of Possible Skin Cancer
- Change in size, color, or texture of an existing mole or a colored area of skin
- New growth on the skin
- Bleeding, scaliness, or oozing of a mole or a colored area of skin
- Spread of color beyond the usual border of a mole or a colored area of skin
- Change in sensation, tenderness, itchiness of a mole or a colored area of skin
- Sore that fails to heal
- Pain associated with a mole or a colored area of skin
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Sun Sense
- Stay out of the sun when it's at its most powerful-between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Sunscreen, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, is a year-round essential. UV damage is not limited to just summer sun exposure. Apply generously and often
- Use a lip balm with an SPF of at least 15
- Don't use sunscreen on children less than 6 months old. Keep them out of the sun and be sure to use appropriate protective clothing and hats
- Seek the shade whenever possible. If your shadow is shorter than you, then the sun's UV rays are at their strongest
- Wear protective clothing when out in the sun, such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants and skirts. Dark colors protect more than light colors, as do tightly woven fabrics.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat that will shade your face, neck, and ears from UV rays
- Use sunglasses with 99% to 100% UV absorption to protect eyes and skin
- Reflective surfaces, such as water, ice, snow, and sand, can increase UV damage
- Tanning beds release very high levels of UV radiation and can damage both skin and eyes
- Be especially careful of sun exposure if you've already had skin cancer, or if a family member has
- Use extra precaution if you live at a high altitude or in tropical or subtropical climates
- Certain medications (such as some antibiotics antihypertensive drugs) and diseases (such as lupus erythematosus) can increase your susceptibility to UV radiation. Organ transplants can do the same. Talk with your physician to learn more
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Know Your ABC's……and D!
Mostly everyone has moles. And most of them are harmless. But it's smart to become acquainted with these bits of your skin and apply the ABCD rule to them in order to detect early any changes that may mean skin cancer.
Asymmetry: one-half of a mole or mark on the skin is different than the other half
Border: the edges of a mole or a colored area of skin are irregular rather than smooth
Color: the color of a mole or a colored area of skin is not uniform; two or more colors may appear
Diameter: the area of a mole or a colored area of skin is greater than ¼ inch (6 mm) or is becoming larger |
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*Adapted from the American Cancer Society ( www.cancer.gov) and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health ( www.cancer.gov). Please visit these Web sites for complete information.
