Organ Donation Journal ArticleDue Friday Feb. 14th

Start by deciding: What organ or tissue you received Why you needed the transplant – failing

organ/tissue or injury Elements you can include in your letter

What your life was like before the transplant How the transplant has changed your life.

Mention activities you can do now that you couldn’t before.

Thank the family for their generous gift. Aspects of communication to consider

How long would you wait before writing your letter and why?

Would you like to hear back from your donor family?

What would you want to learn about the person who donated – their age, occupation, or hobbies?

Would you ever want to meet your donor’s family?

Because you can’t include your name, how will you sign your letter?

Table of Contents

18. Skin Cancer Notes19. How to Check Your Skin20. Are You At Risk?21. Test Review

Skin Cancer9th Grade

Skin Cancer Facts

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. and accounts for approximately 50% of all cancers.

The incidence of skin cancer is greater than breast, lung, prostate, colon, and kidney cancers added together.

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

About one million people are diagnosed with skin cancer every year in the U.S.

One American dies every hour from skin cancer.

Types of Skin Cancer

Basal cell carcinomaSquamous cell carcinomaMelanoma

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is the most frequently diagnosed skin cancer (2.8 million every year in U.S.).

This skin cancer occurs in heavily sun-exposed areas of the skin.

This type of skin cancer usually appears on the face, neck, ears, lips, and nose.

Basal cell carcinoma rarely results in death, but it can spread and cause more serious health problems.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinomas typically occur as light pink or flesh-colored bumps with pearly or waxy appearances.

They grow slowly and are almost never fatal but, if neglected, they can grow to the point where disfiguring surgery is necessary to remove them.

Although common in all areas of the country, it is especially prevalent in southern states.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer (700,000 cases every year in U.S.).

It is more aggressive than basal and can spread to other parts of the body and may result in death (approximately 2,500/year).

Squamous cell carcinoma also tends to occur in the most heavily sun-exposed areas of the skin.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinomas often start as flat red or brown splotches which become rough, dry, and scaly.

If not treated, they may eventually grow large enough to spread to nearby internal organs and be fatal.

It occurs in all areas of the country, but is more prevalent in southern states.

Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Approximately 1 million cases of basal and squamous cell carcinomas are diagnosed each year in the U.S.

Good news: With early detection and treatment, basal and squamous cell carcinomas have a cure rate of more than 95%.

Melanoma

Malignant melanoma is the most deadly of the three types of cancer.

Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of the skin cancer cases.

It causes more than 75% of the skin cancer deaths.

Melanoma causes about 8,790 deaths each year in the U.S.

Source: CDC http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/http://www.skincancer.org/

Melanoma

Melanoma cases are increasing faster than any other cancer.

Melanoma is the most common cancer among 25-29 year-olds and second for 15-29 year-olds.

Vulnerability to melanoma begins at age 12, much earlier than other skin cancers.

If not removed early, while thin, melanoma often grows rapidly, spreads to distant internal organs, and is fatal.

It is equally likely to occur in all areas of the country.

Source: CDC http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/http://www.skincancer.org/

Ordinary Moles

ORDINARY MOLES have all of these features:

Round or oval shapeSharp, even borders with skin  

Uniform color (usually brown)  

Less than 1/4 inch wide

Cauliflower or smooth surface  

Even dome shape if mole is raisedhttp://www.skincheck.org/

Atypical Melanoma Moles

http://www.skincheck.org/

ATYPICAL MOLES often have one or more of these features:

• Irregular shape •   Uneven and/or fuzzy

borders with skin• Two or more shades of

brown or pink• 1/4 inch wide or more• Cauliflower or smooth

surface • Flat edges with "fried

egg" center if mole is raised

Risk Factors for Skin Cancer

Fair skinLight hair colorFamily history of skin cancer

Blistering sunburn before the age of 20

Atypical molesIndoor tanningLarge number of normal moles

Controllable Risk Factors

Risk Factor Risk Percentage

Intermittent exposure of normally covered skin to strong sunlight

High

One blistering sunburn under the age of 20 2 times as likely

Three or more blistering sunburns under the age of 20

5 times as likely

One tanning bed session under the age of 30 Almost 2 times as likely

Ten or more tanning bed sessions in one year under the age of 30

Almost 8 times as likely

Warning Signs of Melanoma

Any change in a mole, blemish, freckle, birthmark, or pigmented area

A new mole or freckle that appears or is growing rapidly, especially if you don't have many moles, or the new mole or freckle looks different from those you do have

A mole or other growth that has any of the ABCD properties:

A = Asymmetry

Radial melanomas are often unsymmetrical; an imaginary line through the middle does not produce matching halves

B = Border

The borders of radial melanomas may be uneven, fuzzy, or have notched or scalloped edges.

C = Color

Radial melanomas often begin to show color changes in areas, with shades of black, brown, tan, and sometimes other colors.

D = Diameter

Unlike normal or atypical moles, radial melanomas often grow larger than the width of a pencil eraser.

Warning Signs of Melanoma

A change in surface texture or in the way a mole feels to the touch

A new "freckle" that is dark, dry, or scaly

A pigmented area or splotch that is new or that you don't remember seeing before

Warning Signs of Melanoma

A new spot that is black, even if very small

A mole or other spot that looks or behaves differently than those around it, even if it seems otherwise normal

A mole or other spot that itches and/or bleeds

Redness, other color, or shadow extending into the surrounding skin

Does where we live matter?

Figures, rounded to the nearest ten, are from American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2011.

UV Index

Ultraviolet Rays (UV) – The ozone layer shields the earth from harmful UV radiation. Ozone depletion, weather and the seasons cause different amounts of UV radiation to reach the earth.

Sun SmartIn your group, discuss and record ways to reduce your chances of skin cancer.