If you’re like me, you remember fondly the endless summers of your youth: lying in the sand, swimming in the lake or ocean all day with the warm sun shining down. Remember that nice, bronze glow and the occasional pinkish or red burn?
Those burns of our childhood, we know now, can lead to the skin cancer of adulthood. We know so much more now about the sun’s power than we did a decade or two ago.
Today, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States; indeed, it is the fastest growing cancer, affecting more than 1 million people each year. One person dies every hour from melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease.
The American Cancer Society estimates that in the Commonwealth of Virginia, there will be an estimated 1,610 new cases of melanoma of the skin this year. And the fact is, many of these cancers could be prevented.
Of course, we know now that we should protect our skin from the sun by using sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) and wearing protective clothing, a hat, lip protection and sunglasses! And, we need to protect our skin in all weather – not just the sunny summertime, as many a snow skier will tell you.
Perhaps our greatest opportunity for changing skin cancer statistics rests with our children. Although most skin cancers are diagnosed when people are older than 50, the damage that causes skin cancer is done at an early age. Just one blistering sunburn can double a child’s lifetime risk of developing skin cancer.
If you are a caregiver, remember to help those young people learn to protect their skin. Teenagers should be warned of the dangers of tanning beds and reminded that there are safer alternatives – such as sunless tanning products and bronzers – if they want that suntanned look for prom.
Examine your skin and your loved ones’ skin frequently. Look for:
* brown or black irregularly pigmented spots with uneven margins;
* a slow-growing, raised, translucent, pearly nodule that may crust, ulcerate or bleed;
* a change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness or pain from a mole; a small, smooth, shiny, pale or waxy lump on the skin; and
* any new mole.
Remember the ABCD rule: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color that is not uniform and Diameter greater than 6 millimeters – about the size of a pencil eraser.
If you discover a suspicious growth while conducting skin examinations, have it checked by your health care professional. The fact is, your risk of developing skin cancer increases as you age. Annual clinical exams are even more important after you reach age 50.
James Spencer, co-chair of the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention and vice chair of Dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, offers the following advice: “By creating awareness of sun safety and skin cancer prevention early, parents can truly make a difference. If sun protection becomes a habit early on, years of sun damage can be avoided, significantly reducing skin cancer risk.”
May is Melanoma Month – a good time to start a good habit for a lifetime of healthy skin. Whether your family is going for a weekend in Virginia Beach, hiking in the Blue Ridge or an afternoon trip to the neighborhood park, by all means, enjoy the sun. But have a healthy regard for its strength and protect yourself and your family. Sun safety should not be neglected by anyone. If we all take responsibility for ourselves and our children, we can change skin cancer from being the fastest growing cancer to one that is rare in future generations.
Susan Allen, wife of U.S. Senator George Allen, is a member of Congressional Families’ Action for Cancer Awareness, a program of the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation. For more info visit www.preventcancer.org.