One out of seven people will develop skin cancer. Are You at Risk?
With summer season upon us, Americans are venturing out to the beaches and their backyards to soak up the sun, or just enjoy the fine weather. However, a lurking danger of unprotected sun exposure is skin cancer. While the sun can certainly help prevent osteoporosis and other diseases through conversion of vitamin D to its active form in the skin, it also puts us at risk of developing skin cancer if not properly protected.
The American Cancer Society states, "Most of the more than 1 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer diagnosed yearly in the United States are considered to be sun-related. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for about 62,190 cases of skin cancer in 2006 and most (about 7,910) of the 10,710 deaths due to skin cancer each year."
The risk factors for nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers include:
1. unprotected and/or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation
2. fair complexion, sunburning easily
3. red or blond hair
4. light colored eyes
5. having many moles, freckles or birthmarks
6. occupational exposures to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium
7. family history of skin cancer
8. severe sunburns as a child
9. tanning in the sun or with a sunlamp
The key to preventing skin cancer is reducing avoidable risk factors and early detection. The American Cancer Society suggests you report to your physician immediately:
1. any change on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole or other darkly pigmented growth or spot, or a new growth
2. scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule
3. the spread of pigmentation beyond its border such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark
4. a change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness, or pain
Also make sure that your physician inspects your entire body each year to screen for skin cancer as part of the yearly physical.
Posted by Dr. Jennifer Stagg on June 30, 2006 05:27 PM
