Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. More than one million Americans develop skin cancer every year and more than 20 people die each day from skin cancer, primarily melanoma.
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One in five Americans and one in three Caucasians will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
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The majority of people diagnosed with melanoma are white men over age 50. Skin cancer is the No. 1 cancer in men over age 50, ahead of prostate, lung, and colon cancers.
Types
Actinic keratoses are considered the earliest stage in the development of skin cancer. They are small, scaly spots.
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Skin cancer forms in tissues of the skin. Most skin cancers are classified as nonmelanoma, usually occurring in either basal cells (small, round cells in the base of the outer layer of skin) or squamous cells (flat cells that form the surface of the skin). Most nonmelanoma skin cancers develop on sun-exposed areas of the body, like the face, ear, neck, lips, and hands.
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Melanoma begins in melanocytes, the skin cells that produce the dark protective pigment called melanin which makes skin tan. The cancer appears in mixed shades of tan, brown, and black.
Warning Signs
Changes in the surface of a mole; scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a new bump; spread of pigment from the border of a mole into surrounding skin; changes in sensation including itchiness, tenderness, or pain.
ABCDs of Melanoma
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Asymmetry – One half does not match the other half in size, shape, color, or thickness.
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Border Irregularity – The edges are ragged, scalloped, or poorly defined.
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Color – The pigmentation is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown, and black are present along with dashes of red, white, and blue.
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Diameter – While melanomas are usually greater than 6mm in diameter (size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, they can be smaller.
Risk Factors
Unprotected and/or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation; fair complexion; occupational exposures to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium; family history; and multiple or atypical moles, and severe sunburns as a child.
Prevention
More than 90 percent of all skin cancers are caused by sun exposure. One blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life. Avoid the sun between 10 AM and 4 PM.
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Nearly 30 million people tan indoors in theU.S. annually; 2.3 million are teens. Based on seven worldwide studies, it has been found that exposure to tanning beds before age 35 increases melanoma risk by 75 percent.
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UV rays travel through clouds. Wear sunglasses with 99 percent to 100 percent UV absorption to provide protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin. Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat. Wear protective clothing. Apply sunscreen and lip balm with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Reapply every two hours and after swimming and sweating.
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Examine your skin every month. See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.
Early detection and removal offer the best chance for a cure.
Sources Cited: American Cancer Society, Skin Cancer Foundation, U.S. National Library of Medicine, American Academy of Dermatology, National Cancer Institute, and Washington and Shady Grove Adventist Hospitals. The Health Tip of the Week is for educational purposes only. For additional information, consult your physician. Please feel free to copy and distribute this health resource.