Tips For Preventing Skin Cancer
August 17, 2009 by skin
Filed under Featured Articles, Skin Care
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. It affects over 1 Million Americans every year. And that number is on the rise. On a more positive note, skin cancer is the easiest form of cancer to remedy. If caught in the early stages the cancer can be removed with a simple outpatient biopsy procedure, while more advanced cases may require traditional cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy.
Types of Skin Cancer
A common misconception is that there in only one type of skin cancer. However, there are many different types of skin cancer.
Melanoma Cancer is probably the most known and most contracted form of skin cancer.
Steps To Preventing Skin Cancer
- Avoid the Sun, especially from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., when the sun’s UVA rays are the strongest. If you must be in the sun wear protective clothing, covering as much of the skin as possible, and wear the stongest sun screen possible.
- Don’t use tanning booths or sunlamps.
- Wear protective clothing and hats when in or around the sun. Remember that the sun’s rays can bounce off of local surfaces. You do not have to be directly in the sun to absorb the damaging rays.
- Check your skin yourself every month for signs of skin cancer. Do your monthly “Mole Patrol” and look for new or abnormal brown-colored spots. If you have over 100 moles on your body you are more likely to contract melanoma skin cancer.
- Seek medical attention if you find a spot. If you see an area on your skin that looks unusual, ask your family physician or Dermatologist about it.
Sometimes skin cancer cannot be prevented. The next best thing is to catch it early. When caught early enough skin cancer can be easy to remove, and chances of full recovery are best. The best way to catch skin cancer in its early stages is to conduct a monthly examination of the body or “Mole Patrol” for spots of interest.
Many times people find a new spot on their bodies and assume it is a mole or age spot. That is fine…but keep a close eye on it. It it begins to grow rapidly or change color, seek medical attention.
How To Detect Skin Cancer
Detecting skin cancer requires that one be vigilant and alert. It is unlikely that a menanoma will be detected without rigorous inspection.
The first thing to look for while on Mole Patrol is a new spot on the body. Next, analyze it to see if it matches the following criteria:
- Assymetry: It you were to disect the mole would both halves be identical?? Melanoma spots are NOT symetrical – they are uneven.
- Examine The Border: The borders of early Melanoma tend not to be even. They will most likely be notched or scalloped.
- Color: Is the spot a solid color or a shade of two or three colors?? It is more than 1 color than it is likely to be melanoma skin cancer.
- Diameter: Melanomas are usually larger in diameter than the size of a pencil eraser (1/4 inch or 6 mm), but may sometimes be smaller when first detected.
- Evolving: Any change in size, shape, color, or elevation or any new symptom such as bleeding, itching or crusting may point to melanoma.
In short:
Benign (non-cancerous) – Symmetrical, Even Borders, One Shade of Color, Smaller than 1/4 inch.
Malignant (cancerous) – Asymmetrical, Uneven Borders, Several Colors or Shades of 1 Color, Larger than 1/4 inch.
You should also watch for the following skin changes:
- A mole that bleeds
- A mole that grows fast
- A scaly or crusted growth on the skin
- A sore that won’t heal
- A mole that itches
- A place on your skin that feels rough, like sandpaper
If you find a spot on your body and you think it may be skin cancer, do not immediately begin to worry. First, make an appointment to see a Dermatologist. Many Dermatologists can tell immediately upon looking at a spot on the body how likely it is to be skin cancer. You can find a certified physician in your area on the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website: www.skincancer.org.
