 Melanoma, a malignant tumor that originates in the cells that
produce the pigment melanin, is the most serious form of skin cancer
but is nearly 100 percent curable if recognized and treated early.
If it is not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of
the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. While it
is not the most common of the skin cancers, it causes the most
deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, there
will be 8,420 fatalities in the U.S., 5,400 in men and 3,020 in
women. The majority of melanomas are black or brown. However, some
melanomas are skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue or white.
There are several ways to protect yourself from the sun's damaging
ultraviolet rays, and using a combinations of methods is usually
most effective. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a
sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher in addition to the following skin
cancer prevention tips.
-
Seek the shade,
especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
-
Do not burn.
-
Avoid tanning and
UV tanning booths.
-
Use a sunscreen
with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
-
Apply 1 ounce (2
tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before
going outside. Reapply every two hours.
-
Cover up with
clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking
sunglasses.
-
Keep newborns out
of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of
6 months.
-
Examine your skin
head-to-toe every month.
-
See your physician every year for a
professional skin exam or when there is a change in an existing
mole or freckle.
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"Be aware that there are several risk factors for skin cancer in
addition to sun exposure, such as family history and skin type,"
says Margie Harris, assistant administrator and director of nursing
at the Logan County Department of Public Health. "Also know that
shade doesn't offer full protection from the sun, and you can get
burned from UV rays even if you've been in the shade all day."
That's because indirect or diffuse ultraviolet light is radiation
that has been scattered by the clouds and other elements in the
atmosphere or bounced back from UV-reflective surfaces like dry sand
or concrete. In fact, a large percentage of the ultraviolet light we
receive while sitting under a tree or an umbrella is indirect. We
can rely only on deep shade (where we cannot see the sky and no
ultraviolet penetrates) to offer truly complete protection.
For more tips and information on skin cancer, go to
www.skincancer.org.
The HOPE Mobile is a component of the Healthy Communities
Partnership, a collaborative organization comprised of dozens of
community agencies. It is supported in part by the Abraham Lincoln
Healthcare Foundation.
[Text from file received from
Healthy
Communities Partnership]
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