May is skin cancer prevention month

5/11/10 Posted in News  |  0 Comments

While late spring usually means a rush to get a tan for high school prom, graduation or simply to prepare for the beach, the serious threat of skin cancer should not be ignored. An estimated 11,590 people died in 2009 from skin cancer, and over 74,000 were newly diagnosed. When UV rays from the sun, sun lamps and tanning beds are linked to skin cancer, there is no longer an excuse for ignoring this disease.

How can you prevent skin cancer? Pay attention to your time spent in those UV rays—wear sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, cover up with clothes and a wide-brimmed hat, stay out of the sun during peak times (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and remember that a nice tan is never worth risking your life.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can be deadly. Remember to look for any suspicious or unusual moles using the American Cancer Society’s guide.

Symmetry—one half of the mole does not match the other.
Order—edges of the mole are irregular (blurred, ragged).
Color—color is not uniform and may have patches of pink, red, white or black.
Diameter—melanoma moles are usually larger than 1/4 inch, but this is not always the case.

If you find a suspicious mole, talk to your doctor. Nothing increases cancer survival rates more than early detection, and nothing lowers cancer rates more than prevention. This May, stay safe in the sun.