May is Skin Cancer and Prevention
Skin cancer, facts and figures
Did you know?
- Skin cancer is the most common of all cancer types
- More than 3.5 million skin cancers are diagnosed each year in th United States. That's more than all other cancers combined.
- The number of skin cancer cases has been going up over the past few decades.
2 Common Types (basal and squamous cell)
- Rarely spread esewhere
- Less likely to be fatel
- untreated, can grow large, invade nearby tissues, and cause scarring, disfigurement, or loss of function of some parts of the body
Melanomas
- More likely to start on the trunk in men and the legs in women, also commonly found on the face and neck
- Less common, more serious
- Untreated, it is more likely to spread and then can be very hard to treat
Both types are almost always curable in their EARLY stages!
If you find comething suspicious.....
Report it to your doctor!
Alternatives
Consider a spray tan or a self-tanning lotion. These cosmetic products stain the skin for a short time and are not thought to be harmful when used properly. Stayaway, though, from tanning pills and acceleerators, which are not FDA -approved and could cause liver or skin problems.
Remeber Your ABC's: Melanoma Warning Signs
Important Melanoma Warning Signs: 1. New spots on the skin 2. A spot that is changing in size, shape, or color 3. A spot that looks different from all other spots on your skin. The ABCD rule is another guide to the usual signs of melanoma. Be on the lookout and tell your doctor about spots that have any of the following features:
A is for Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other
B is for Border: the edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
C is for Color: The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, or sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue.
D is for Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about 1/4 inch - the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
Information can be found on the American Cancer Society website at: www.cancer.org
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