Skin Cancer Prevention

The Skinny on Skin Cancer

So you can enjoy your life in the great outdoors!

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy diagnosed in the United States with over 1,250,000 new cases reported each year. That’s more than cancers of the prostate, breast, lung, colon, uterus, ovaries, and pancreas combined. Americans over the age of 65 have a forty to fifty percent chance of developing at least one skin malignancy, and the number of skin cancers has been on the rise for the past few decades.

Skin cancer is common, yet preventable. There is a lot you can do to protect yourself from skin cancer. Over exposure to the sun without sunscreen, use of tanning beds, or lack of protective clothing adds to the risk of skin cancer development. The Ultraviolet rays (UV rays) used in tanning salons are just as damaging to DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) as the UV found in sunlight. The sun's UV rays also increase the risk of cataracts and certain other eye problems and can suppress the immune system.

What Is the UV Index?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Weather Service developed the UV Index. The UV index number, on a scale from 1 to 11+ is a measure of the amount of UV radiation reaching the earth's surface during an hour around noon. The higher the number is, the greater the exposure to UV radiation.

The UV index is projected daily for regions throughout the country. Many newspaper and television weather forecasts now include the projected UV index for the following day.

Predictions for the following day’s UV index by zip codes are available on the Environmental Protection Agency web site at: www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html

Ways to protect yourself :

Limit direct sun exposure. UV rays are most intense during the middle of the day, between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM.
Take the shadow test! If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun's rays are the strongest.
Ultraviolet rays reach the ground even on cloudy days. They can also pass through water, so don't assume you're safe if you're in the water and feeling cool. Be especially careful on the beach and in the snow because sand and snow reflect sunlight, increasing the amount of UV radiation you receive.
Skiers and Hikers Beware! If you live or vacation at high altitudes (UV radiation increases 4% to 5% for every 1,000 feet above sea level), or live or vacation in tropical or subtropical climates, you need to know that you can do serious damage to your skin within fifteen minutes of being exposed to the sun without protection.
Some UV rays can also pass through windows. Typical car, home, and office windows block most of the UVB rays but a smaller portion of UVA rays, so even if you don’t feel you’re getting burned your skin may still get some long-term damage. Tinted windows help block more UVA rays, although this depends upon the type of tinting.

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth…

A lot! Here is how you can help yourself everyday:

Cover Up
Wear a Hat
Use sunscreen
Wear Sunglasses That Block UV Rays
Avoid Tanning Beds, Sunlamps and Tanning Pills

*Remember that sunscreen does not give you total protection. Experts recommend products with an SPF of at least 15. Check the expiration date on the container to be sure it is still effective. Be generous when applying sunscreen, especially on your face, ears, hands, and arms, and any skin that is not covered by clothing. Products labeled "waterproof" may provide protection for at least 80 minutes even when swimming or sweating.

How to Check Your Skin

A self-exam is best done once a month in a well-lit room in front of a full-length mirror. A hand-held mirror can be used for areas that are hard to see.

Periodic self-examinations for new or abnormal-looking moles, growths, sores, and skin discoloration can help catch skin cancer in its earliest stages.

Here is the “ABCDE” Rule for Skin Cancer that you can follow to check for a possible malignancy:

*Asymmetry * Border *Color *Diameter *Elevation

Asymmetry: One side of the mole or growth differs in shape from the other side.
Border: The border of the abnormal area changes from smooth to blurry, irregular or "ragged." Pigment from the area may "bleed" into the surrounding skin.
Color: Watch for color changes. A mole has multiple colors and shades. Variations include tans, browns, white, red, pink or even blue.
Diameter: Increases in size are most common, but shrinkage may also occur.
Elevation: A previously flat mole is now raised or elevated from the surrounding skin.

Other signs to look for include open sores, raised bumps, red patches, discomfort (such as burning or itching, or bleeding skin), lesion pink-colored growths and scar-like formations. Any signs of changes need to be immediately addressed with your doctor!

The American Cancer Society is happy to address any cancer related topic. If you have any questions, please call them at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Source: Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection, The American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures, 2006.