Toni-Lynn
08-08-2008, 10:42 PM
Protect and Detect!
The most important fact to know about skin cancer is that anyone, with any skin type, can get it. Your risk increases if you have a family history of skin cancer, a high number of moles, fair skin or if you've had lifelong exposure to the sun or severe sunburns as a child. Living at a high altitude or in a tropical or subtropical climate and using tanning booths also increase your chances of developing skin cancer, as do certain medical conditions and prescription medications.
There are three main types of skin cancer:
Basal Cell Carcinoma can be pearly white, pink or red; flat or raised; and shiny or waxy.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma can look like a scaly, red bump or sore that doesn't heal.
Melanoma most frequently looks like irregular, darkly colored or multi-colored moles. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer because it progresses faster than the other types and can spread to bones or the brain.
Fortunately, all types of skin cancer are extremely treatable if found early. More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year. Most new cases are found in patients aged 40 to 60, but the age of onset is getting younger each year.
The American Cancer Society recommends a complete skin self-exam (http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/ped_7_1_Skin_Cancer_Detection_What_You_Can_Do.asp? sitearea=&level=) every month. If you have any of the bumps or patches described above or a mole that changes in appearance, or if you have a high number of risk factors, please see a dermatologist for an evaluation.
Prevention
The best way to prevent skin cancer is to avoid over-exposure to the sun. Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater, even on cloudy days, and don't forget your ears and neck. Dark, tightly woven clothes offer more sun protection than light-colored, thin fabrics. Wear sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats. Avoid going out in the middle of the day and say “no” to tanning booths and beds.
Above all, protect the children in your care from excessive sun exposure. Many skin cancer cases have their roots in childhood sunburns.
The most important fact to know about skin cancer is that anyone, with any skin type, can get it. Your risk increases if you have a family history of skin cancer, a high number of moles, fair skin or if you've had lifelong exposure to the sun or severe sunburns as a child. Living at a high altitude or in a tropical or subtropical climate and using tanning booths also increase your chances of developing skin cancer, as do certain medical conditions and prescription medications.
There are three main types of skin cancer:
Basal Cell Carcinoma can be pearly white, pink or red; flat or raised; and shiny or waxy.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma can look like a scaly, red bump or sore that doesn't heal.
Melanoma most frequently looks like irregular, darkly colored or multi-colored moles. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer because it progresses faster than the other types and can spread to bones or the brain.
Fortunately, all types of skin cancer are extremely treatable if found early. More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year. Most new cases are found in patients aged 40 to 60, but the age of onset is getting younger each year.
The American Cancer Society recommends a complete skin self-exam (http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/ped_7_1_Skin_Cancer_Detection_What_You_Can_Do.asp? sitearea=&level=) every month. If you have any of the bumps or patches described above or a mole that changes in appearance, or if you have a high number of risk factors, please see a dermatologist for an evaluation.
Prevention
The best way to prevent skin cancer is to avoid over-exposure to the sun. Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater, even on cloudy days, and don't forget your ears and neck. Dark, tightly woven clothes offer more sun protection than light-colored, thin fabrics. Wear sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats. Avoid going out in the middle of the day and say “no” to tanning booths and beds.
Above all, protect the children in your care from excessive sun exposure. Many skin cancer cases have their roots in childhood sunburns.