Skin cancer is the most rapidly increasing cancer in the U.S. with more than 1 million new cases each year. The most likely reason that skin cancer rates are rising is that people are spending more time outdoors. Ozone layer depletion may also contribute. Using SPF lotion consistently & reapplying when necessary prevents damage to the skin. The good news is that most forms of skin cancer are highly curable!
It's never too late to start treating your skin well.
Parents: When you protect your children when they are young and you teach them good habits in the sun, you can substantially lower their risk of getting skin cancer.
Learn the Warning Signs
- • Any change on the skin
- A new spot
- A spot changes in size, shape or color
- A sore that won't heal
- A mole or dark colored growth especially one that looks crusty, oozes or bleeds.
- • Risk factors
- Personal or family history of skin cancer
- Moles
- A lot of them
- Unusual shapes and sizes
- Natural blonde or red hair color
- Skin sunburns easily
- History of excessive sun exposure, tanning booths or sunburns
- Occupational exposure to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds or radium.
Prevention
- • Limit or avoid the sun from 10am to 4pm even on a cloudy day
- • When outdoors wear a large hat to shade your face, neck and ears
- • Wear sunglasses
- • Wear lightweight clothing that covers as much of your body as possible. Don't forget about the tops of your feet!
- • Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher
- Remember to reapply sunscreen regularly throughout the day when outdoors.
- People allergic to PABA should use PABA-free sunscreen.
Early Detection
- • Become familiar with the skin you're in! Examine your skin regularly, and use a mirror for hard-to-reach places.
- • Learn the warning signs of skin cancer:
- A = Asymmetry. Does one half of the mole look different than the other half?
- B = Borders. Are the mole's edges ragged or not clearly defined?
- C = Color. Is the mole more than one color?
- D = Diameter. From edge to edge is the mole larger than 6 millimeters?
- • Go see a doctor immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of these questions.
Treatment
- • 90% of early stage skin cancers can be removed!
- • Even the most serious form of skin cancer, called malignant melanoma, has a 5-year survival rate of more than 95% when found early!
Additional Information
For information on cancers not covered here, please visit the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institutes.
