The Sunny Truth Can Hurt

The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation

True or False?

• A suntan is an injury to the skin T/F

• In winter, skin does not need protection T/F

• Sunblock should be applied every 2 hrs T/F

• Tanning beds are healthy T/F

• Too much sun is the main cause of skin cancer

T/F

The “Good” Sun

• Provides light

• Keeps us warm

• Helps plants grow

• Provides us with Vitamin D

• Makes us feel good

The “Bad” - Too Much of It...

• Can burn or tan (injure) our skin

• Causes premature wrinkles

• Causes dark patches (age spots)

• Suppresses the immune system

• Causes cataracts and eye damage

• Causes skin cancers

The Ugly

• Skin cancer rates are rapidly increasing

• 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer

• 1 million cases (non-melanoma) per year

• Skin cancers can be disfiguring and deadly

What Is Skin Cancer?

• An abnormal overgrowth (tumor) of certain skin cells.

• Benign (local, non life-threatening)

• Malignant (invasive or spreads)

• Can be deadly

• Prevention and early detection is key

Why Is Skin Cancer Important?

• It is the most common type of cancer in the U.S.

• One death every hour in U.S. (melanoma)

• Melanoma rates have tripled in past 30 years

• Significant sunburns in childhood often lead to cancers

• Younger people are being diagnosed

@70% of adults do not use sunscreen

Causes of Skin Cancer

• Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation from the sun

• UVA - tan, burn, skin damage, aging

• UVB - may cause melanoma, skin cancers

• Tanning booths - UVA/UVB rays

• Genetics - family history

• Chemical agents - exposure to coal, arsenic

1 in 3 teenage girls (U.S.) uses a tanning booth

Ozone Tanning

Risky Business Am I At Risk?

• Fair skin and red or blonde hair• Light colored eyes• Sunburns easily - or uses tanning beds• Many moles, freckles or birthmarks• Frequent outdoor work• Childhood sun exposure; serious sunburn• Family history

A Note About Moles

• Many shapes and sizes, colors and numbers

• You could have 1 or 100

• Often don’t pose a problem or concern

• Sometimes are dangerous or cancerous

• Know your skin and look out for changes

How Sun Damages Our Skin

• Sunburn and tanning - short-term

• Prematurely aged skin - longer term

• Wrinkles

• Loss of elasticity

• Dark patches ("age spots" or "liver spots")

• Actinic keratoses

• Skin cancers

Types of Skin Cancer

• Squamous Cell CarcinomaUsually found on sun exposed areas (ears, face and mouth)

• Symptoms - bump that turns into an open sore (red or crusty, gets larger, sore that won't heal)

• If untreated can spread quickly (lymphatic blood and nerve routes)

Types (continued)

• Basal Cell Carcinoma - Most common • Accounts for more than 75% of skin cancers

• Mostly found on the face, neck, and hands

• Highly treatable, rarely spreads

• Symptoms - sore that oozes or bleeds, a red or irritated area, a yellow or white area (scar-like), and a pink pearly bump

Types (continued)

• Melanoma-The most dangerous and deadly type

• Can develop on any part of the body (arms, legs and trunk most common)

• When found early, it is considered highly treatable.

Melanoma Symptoms

• A mole, freckle, or new/existing spot

• That changes color, size or shape

• It may have an irregular outline and possibly be more than one color

A View of Skin Cancers

Squamous cell

Basal cell

Melanoma

Additional Melanomas

Not inclusive…may show up differently

Early Detection (ABCD and E)

A - asymmetry - one half of the mole does not match the other half.

B - border - the edges of the more are irregular, ragged, blurred or notched.

C- color - the color over the mole is not the same. There may be differing shades of tan, brown or black and sometimes patches of red, blue or white.

D - diameter - the mole is larger than 6mm (approximately 1/4 inch or about the size of a pencil eraser).

E - elevation - is almost always present (a mole may also be flat).

E - enlargement - a history of increase in the size of a mole is one of the most important signs.

Signs and Symptoms Overview

Any change on the skin (size, color or dark pigmented growth or spot, or a new growth)

Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule

The spread of pigmentation beyond its borderChange in sensation (itchy, tender, or painful)

How Can I Protect Myself?

Prevention

• Do Not Burn -Avoid sun tans and sunbeds

• Apply Sunscreen “generously” - SPF 15 +

• Wear *Protective Clothing when possible

• Seek Shade (rays strongest between 10-4)

• Use extra caution near water, snow, sand (they reflect damaging rays)

* long sleeves, pants, wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses

I’m Protected!“My helmet keeps me safe when I ride my bike on the street”

I am Not!

“What will keep me safe out here”?

Detection - Skin Self-Exam

• Inspect your skin monthly

• Follow the A-B-C-D-E’s

• Include hard-to-see areas (scalp, back, ears, buttocks, toes, etc)

• Perform exam in well-lit area

• In front of full-length mirror

Got Skin, Get Checked

• Spots on the skin that are new or changing should be evaluated by a physician.

Get checked every 3 years between ages 20-40 and every

year over age 40ACS guidelines

Treatment

• Biopsy first, excision (surgical removal) of the growth if needed

• More surgery if stage has progressed

• Radiation or chemotherapy may be used

• Photodynamic therapy (drug or laser, kills cancer cells)

How The Foundation is Helping

• The Foundation was established with the vision to be "the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure".

• It's Mission and focus is on melanoma education, awareness and supporting research to bring about a cure for this deadly disease.

For more information on the Foundation, visit our

website at www.melanomaresource.or

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Key Reminders

• Skin cancers are on the rise and are serious

• Excess sun is the main cause

• Protection is key (sunblock, shade, etc)

• Prevention begins in childhood

• If found early is very treatable

• Balance activity with protection

Love It…Know When to Leave it