Shedding Light On Skin Cancer

American Cancer Society
Monday, 9 February 1998

1998/02/09 -You may have heard recent news reports that question the effectiveness of sunscreens in protecting users from developing melanoma. Melanoma is only one type of skin cancer and using sunscreen is only one of several measures that can help reduce one's risk. The best way to guard against any form of skin cancer is to know the facts.

What are the Most Common Forms of Skin Cancer?

Melanoma Skin Cancer, the most serious form of skin cancer, begins in the melanocytes, the cells which produce the skin coloring or pigment known as melanin. This year, approximately 41,600 persons will be diagnosed with Melanoma and 7,300 deaths may occur from the disease.

Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer, the most common form of the disease, come from skin cells other than melanocytes. Non-Melanoma skin cancer tends to grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body. This year, about 1 million new cases are expected to be diagnosed. Over 95 percent can be cured and, when diagnosed at an early stage, nearly 100 percent are cured.

Who is at Risk for Skin Cancer?

- People with fair complexions, light or red hair or blue eyes

- People who continually expose their skin to the sun are at risk for non-melanoma skin cancer

- People who occasionally expose their skin to the sun (for example, on weekends) may be at risk for melanoma

- People with many moles and/or irregular shaped moles are at risk for melanoma

- Those with family or personal history of skin cancer

While everyone is at risk for skin cancer, incidence rates are approximately 20 times higher among whites than African Americans.

How Can I Prevent Skin Cancer?

- Limit sun exposure between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., when ultraviolet (UV) rays are the most intense.

- Wear hats with a brim wide enough to shade face, ears, and neck and clothing that covers as much of the arms, legs, and torso as possible.

- Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.

- Avoid tanning beds and sun lamps. They provide an additional source of UV radiation.

- Use caution if you're taking prescription drugs. Some drugs can greatly increase your skin's sensitivity to UV radiation. Check with your pharmacist.

- It is especially important to protect the skin in childhood and adolescence.

For those that are at particularly high risk due to hereditary risk factors, prevention for melanoma may not be possible. However, regular self and clinical skin examination can detect the disease at an early stage, when treatment is simpler and cure is more likely.

Clues to Early Detection

Early detection is the key to treating skin cancer successfully. Non-melanoma skin cancers often take the form of a pale, waxlike, pearly nodule, or a red, scaly, sharply outlined patch. The ABCD rule is an easy way to identify a mole that could be a sign of melanoma:

- Asymmetry - One half does not match the other half.

- Border Irregularity - The edges of the mole are ragged, notched or blurred.

- Color - The color is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown and black are present.

- Diameter - The mole is wider than 6 millimeters or 1/4" (about the size of a pencil eraser). Any sudden or continuing increase in size should be of special concern.

Adults should practice skin self-exams regularly. All suspicious skin lesions should be evaluated by a physician promptly.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org