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SKIN CANCER
ALWAYS PLAY DEFENSE
Protect your skin from the sun
Being outdoors is often a choice and at other times a
necessity, whether you’re enjoying a walk in the neigh-
borhood or doing yard work.
If you spend time outside, consider this a must-do:
Defend yourself against the sun’s dangerous rays.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. But
the good news is that there are simple things you can do
to help prevent skin cancer or detect it early enough so
that it can be effectively treated.
To help protect your skin, the American Academy of
Dermatology and other experts advise that you:
●
Make sunscreen a habit. Choose a broad-spectrum one
with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Apply
it generously and often.
●
Try to seek shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when
the sun’s rays are strongest.
●
Avoid tanning beds and deliberately tanning.
●
Wear wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, pants
and sunglasses when outdoors.
●
Report any suspicious or problem spots to your doctor.
●
Ask your doctor how often you should have a skin
exam.
By taking these steps, you can enjoy the outdoors and
lower your risk of getting skin cancer.
UP CLOSE AND
PERSONAL
Check your skin for signs of cancer
A LITTLE WATCHFULNESS
on your part could make a
big difference when it comes to the threat of skin cancer.
When it’s found before it has a chance to spread, skin
cancer can be relatively easy to treat.
That’s why checking your skin routinely—once a
month is recommended—is such an important health
habit. Knowing the pattern of your moles, blemishes,
freckles or other marks on your skin can help you read-
ily spot any changes.
And by reporting those changes to your doctor right
away, you can help ensure that you catch cancer in its
earliest, most treatable stages. That’s especially key with
melanoma—a particularly dangerous form of skin cancer
that can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts
of the body, such as the lungs, liver or brain.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Watch for anything that’s new or
changing, such as a new mole or blemish or a change in
the size, shape, or color of a skin spot or mole, reports
the American Cancer Society.
Also be alert to any mole that is painful or that starts
to itch, bleed or ooze.
Examine your entire body, from head to toe and front
to back, in a well-lit room and in front of a full-length
mirror. Use a hand-held mirror to view areas that are
hard to see, such as your scalp or the backs of your thighs.
If you do find something that’s suspicious, play it safe
and have your doctor take a look.
ASYMMETRY.
One
half of the mole
doesn’t match the
other.
BORDERS.
Its
edges are irregular,
ragged or blurred.
COLOR.
There
may be more than
one color, such as
tan, brown, black,
white, red or blue.
DIAMETER.
It’s
larger than a
pencil eraser or is
growing.
EVOLVING.
It looks
different from other
moles or is chang-
ing in size, shape
or color.
Be sure to talk to your doctor right
away if you think you have a suspicious-
looking mole.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology; National
Institutes of Health
L E T T E R
BE ALERT TO THE
When checking a mole, remember the
ABCDE guide to the signs of melanoma.
Skin cancer is most treatable
when it is found early. To make
an appointment to have your
skin checked, call
-
.
Sometimes, a mountain does
start as a molehill—or rather, a
mole. Contact your doctor as soon
as you notice abnormalities.
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S P R I N G 2 0 1 5
T H E
S A M A R I T A N