FRIDAY, May 24, 2002 (HealthDayNews) -- Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. It's also one of the most preventable. But left unchecked, it can be among the deadliest.
Melanoma, the most serious of the three types of skin cancer, is the fastest-rising form of cancer in the United States. It causes 75 percent of the deaths from skin cancer, and there will be approximately 53,600 new cases of melanoma diagnosed this year. That's a 4 percent increase over 2001, according to the American Cancer Society.
There will also be nearly 1 million new cases this year of the highly curable but potentially disfiguring basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, the ACS states in its 2002 "Facts and Figures" report.
To combat this alarming rise in cancer cases and to better educate Americans about the hazards of too much sun, May has been declared "Skin Cancer Awareness Month."
While it may seem obvious, protecting yourself from the sun is the best way to reduce your risk of skin cancer, dermatologists say.
"If you are fair-skinned, work outdoors, play golf or tennis [or other outdoor sports] or have a history of skin cancer, you should always protect yourself from the sun," says Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein, a New York City dermatologist.
Hats, preferably with a 2-inch brim, UV-treated sunglasses, protective clothing and waterproof sun block are all invaluable, adds Dr. Debra Jaliman, clinical instructor at New York City's Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Dermatology.
Look for a sun block that protects against both ultraviolet-B rays (UVB) and ultraviolet-A (UVA) rays. UVBs are short-wave solar rays that are considered the primary cause of skin cancers. UVAs are long-wave rays that cause wrinkling and aging of the skin, and are thought to interact with UVBs to increase cancer risk.
"You want to block all rays," says Jaliman, who recommends buying sun block with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF)of 15.
However, not all sun blocks are created equal, she adds.
Many sun blocks are advertised as "broad spectrum," meaning they claim to offer protection from both UVB and UVA rays, Jaliman says. "But the labels can be very misleading," so make sure one of the main ingredients is a strong blocking agent, like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, she says.
It's also important to wear protective clothing, she says. There are companies that even manufacture clothing with an SPF of 4 or more. You don't have to buy a whole new wardrobe, Jaliman says, "but you could have one piece of clothing to wear at the beach all day."
Goldstein emphasizes the importance of reapplying waterproof sun block if you're outdoors for a long period of time.
"SPF 15 works for about two hours," he says. "So if you're at the pool or beach, or playing golf all day, you should reapply. I tell golfers to reapply sun block after the first nine holes."
And dermatologists warn the sun is most dangerous between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Children, with their sensitive skin, are particularly vulnerable to the sun. While skin cancer is uncommon in children, the damage that leads to it is accumulated in childhood. So, it's crucial that kids wear plenty of sun block, as well as protective clothing, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
"In the summer, kids should wear hats and shirts when they're out of the pool, playing in the sand," Goldstein says. "I lather my own kids up with SPF 30 at the pool."
And if you think tanning salons, which are popular with teens and young adults, offer a preemptive strike against skin cancer, think again. A recent Brown University Medical School study found people who used tanning salons when they were younger were nearly three times more likely to get squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma than those who didn't use tanning salons.
Dermatologists also recommend annual exams to check for unusual moles or pre-cancerous lesions. And these check-ups should be done by a dermatologist.
"If a gynecologist or general practitioner looks at a skin lesion, you have a 50/50 chance of the correct diagnosis. But the accuracy level of a dermatologist's diagnosis is 97 percent," Jaliman says.
You should also examine yourself regularly for moles that change shape or color, or for new moles or marks that appear and don't go away.
"I spend some time with my patients teaching them how to look at moles, and they become better participants in their own care," Jaliman says.
What To Do: For instructions on how to conduct a thorough self-exam for skin cancer, visit The Skin Cancer Foundation. To find the daily level for ultraviolet rays in your city, check The Interactive Weather Information Network. To see how knowledgeable you are about skin cancer, take this test from the American Academy of Dermatology.
