The
good news about skin cancer is that it is highly preventable and almost
100 percent curable when diagnosed and treated in its early stages.
The bad news is that skin cancer will affect 1.3 million
and 10,000 will die from it this year, according to American Cancer Society
predictions. And American Cancer Society-funded research reveals that the
incidence of melanoma the form of skin cancer that is potentially
deadly because it spreads quickly to other organs of the body is
increasing rapidly. Nationally, there are 47,800 cases and 7,800 deaths
each year that can be attributed to melanoma, according to the ACS study.
"Melanoma is increasing faster than all other cancers,"
reported Dr. Mitchel Goldman, a La Jolla, Calif.-based dermatologist and
spokesman for the cancer society.
The reason? Too many suntan-loving Americans are ignoring
dermatologists’ warnings to avoid exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays
and failing to take recommended precautions.
Many Americans consider a suntan a sign of good health,
yet scientists say exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays is the main environmental
factor in developing skin cancer, according to Dr. Michael Curran, a post-doctoral
research fellow in immunology at the University of California Berkeley.
Curran says the increase in skin cancer is causing serious concern among
doctors, especially because it’s such a preventable disease.
"It is known that exposure to sunburn-causing ultraviolet
light B (UVB) increases the risk of skin cancer. Scientists are now concluding
that ultraviolet light A (UVA), the sunlight that tans us, also increases
the risk of melanoma," said Dr. Richard Fitzpatrick of San Diego, a dermatologist
and spokesman for the American Cancer Society.
Fitzpatrick is also concerned that the public is not aware
of the risks presented by tanning parlors.
"People have the misconception that a tan from a tanning
booth is a safe tan, when in reality it may be even more dangerous than
a tan from natural sunlight because suntan parlor tanning beds deliver about
99 percent UVA to the skin, which can present a significant danger to users
even those who visit tanning parlors only 10 times a year," Fitzpatrick
said.
There are three main types of skin cancer basal
cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. The first two are
easily treatable when diagnosed in their early stages. But because melanoma
can spread so rapidly to other organs in the body, it is not so easily treatable
unless caught in its earliest stages.
"There could be a 100 percent cure rate if all skin cancers
were brought to a physician’s attention before they spread," Fitzpatrick
said. "It is important to immediately report any changes in your skin to
your physician."
The American Cancer Society recommends that adults practice
skin self-exams regularly to check for changes in skin growths or the appearance
of new growths. Suspicious lesions should be evaluated promptly by a physician,
as should sudden or progressive changes in a mole’s appearance.
Melanomas often start as small, mole-like growths that
increase in size and change in color. ACS recommends applying its ABCD guideline
to recognizing melanoma.
A: Asymmetry one half of the mole does not match
the other half.
B: Border irregularity the edges are ragged, notched
or blurred.
C: Color the pigmentation is not uniform, with
variable degrees of tan, brown or black.
D: Diameter greater than 6 millimeters (about the
size of a pencil eraser head) and any sudden or progressive changes in size.
Basal and squamous cell skin cancers often take the form
of a pale, wax-like nodule or a red, scaly, sharply outlined patch.
To reduce the risk of skin cancer, ACS advises wearing
protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses with UV-protective lenses and
applying sunscreen and wearing before going outdoors especially between
10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s ultraviolet rays are the strongest.
Tightly woven fabrics and dark colors offer the greatest
protection from the sun and the hat you choose should have a wide brim.
Sunscreen with a skin protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher should be
applied at least 20 minutes before going outdoors and re-applied after swimming
or periods of heavy perspiration. Sunscreen loses its effectiveness over
time, so toss that old bottle of sunscreen you’ve had around since last
summer and buy a new one.
"Children in particular should be protected from the sun
because of the possible link between severe sunburns in childhood and greatly
increased risk of melanoma later in life," Fitzpatrick advised.
Fitzpatrick and other dermatologists also recommend having
your entire body checked by a dermatologist once a year to detect skin cancer
in its early stages.
(c)
Copley News Service
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