Quick Facts: Skin Cancer

The Sun

The sun is always present, even on cloudy days. It emits invisible UV rays that cause sunburn & skin damage. After a certain amount of damage, the skin cannot be repaired. You can protect yourself by:

• Using sunscreen
  
• Wearing a shirt or other clothing to cover up
  
• Staying out of the sun from 10am-2pm when the sun's rays are the strongest
  
• Wearing a hat & sunglasses to protect your head and eyes
  
• Staying in the shade as much as possible when outside
  

A suntan is not healthy! It is a sign of damage. Tanning means the skin has exceeded the safe level of sun exposure. Too much sun can cause wrinkles. The UV rays can also cause the skin to develop solar keratoses, or ugly patches of rough, scaly skin.

Sunscreen Tips

All skin damage caused by the sun is cumulative, which means it adds up over time. However, you can prevent increased damage to the skin by following the below tips:

• People of all skin types should use at least SPF 15 sunscreen (preferably higher) for UV protection.
  
• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside.
  
• When applying, cover all exposed areas, especially ears, backs of hands, feet, throat, face and neck.
  
• Sunscreen loses its effectiveness after 1 1/2- 2 hours, so reapply, even if it claims to be waterproof.
  
• Wear sunscreen anytime you go outside, even in the winter. It's not just for the beach!
  

Signs of skin cancer

• Small lump (either smooth and waxy, can bleed, or crust over), usually painless
  
• Flat, red spot, usually painless
  
• Firm, red lump, usually painless
  
• Lump with scaly or hard top, tender to the touch (usually indicates squamous cell carcinoma)
  
• Moles or unusual bumps that don't go away after a month
  

Who's at risk for skin cancer?

Everyone is at risk! UV rays are person-blind - color of skin doesn't matter - and anyone who spends too much time in the sun without protection is at high risk for skin cancer. Here are factors that increase your risk even more:

• Family History
  
• Personal history of cancer
  
• 50 or more moles on your body
  
• Light skin, fair complexion; Redheads & blondes; Blue & green eyes. African Americans are at low risk.
  
• Freckling or burning easily
  
• Using tanning lamps/booths
  
• Working outside for long hours in the sun
  
• Rhode Islanders: 16% higher incidence rate & 71% higher death rate from Melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer).
  

Know your ABCDE's

• A is for Asymmetry: Moles unequal in shape.
  
• B is for Border: Moles with irregular, jagged, or poorly defined borders.
  
• C is for Color: More than one color.
  
• D is for Diameter: Larger than a pencil eraser.
  
• E is for Elevation: Mole raised from surrounding skin.
  

Cancer Types

Malignant Melanoma: This type of skin cancer is responsible for 75% of all cancer-related deaths. It often spreads to other body parts & often reoccurs. Risk increases with age, but melanoma is the #1 cause of cancer death in women aged 25-30.

Basal Cell Carcinoma: This type of skin cancer is a cancer at the bottom of the epidermis. It is responsible for 75% of all skin cancers in the U.S. It is slow growing and rarely spreads, but can cause skin erosion, ulcers that reoccur, or disfigurement. If detected early and removed, it has a cure rate of over 95%.

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