MELANOMA AWARENESScopy

MELANOMA AWARENESS: 

MELANOMA AWARENESS By: Fiona DiGennaro, Brookdale Community College

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MELANOMA is the least common, but the deadliest type of skin cancer.

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It kills one person every hour in the United States.

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It is the #1 cause of cancer death in women ages 25-30 and is second only to breast cancer in women ages 30-34.

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It is the 6 th most common cause of cancer in men of all age groups.

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One blistering sunburn doubles your risk of developing MELANOMA.

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In 2010, there were 68,000 new cases of metastatic melanoma in the U.S. There were also 8,700 deaths.

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Early detection of MELANOMA can save your life. A new or changing mole should be evaluated by a dermatologist . . .

ABCD’s of MELANOMA: 

ABCD’s of MELANOMA A is for Asymmetry . One half is different than the other half. If you were to fold it in half, the two sides would not match up.

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B is for Border Irregularity . The edges are notched, uneven, or blurred.

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C is for Color Variation – or Change . The color is uneven. Shades of brown, tan and black are present. A mole has been changing in any way.

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D is for Diameter . Diameter is greater than 6 millimeters (or ¼ of an inch).

Other Warning Signs: 

Other Warning Signs The appearance of a new bump or nodule. Color spreads into surrounding skin. Redness or swelling beyond the mole. Pain. Tenderness. Itching. Bleeding, oozing or scaly appearance.

Prevention: 

Prevention Reduce the amount of time you spend in the sun, especially at certain times of the day.

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Make sure you are well protected when you are in the sun.

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Do a self-exam every 6 to 8 weeks to help ensure that you find suspicious moles early. Have them checked promptly by your doctor.

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REMEMBER, CHILDHOOD IS AN ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TIME FOR SUN PROTECTION. For Babies under 6 months, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding sun exposure and dressing infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats. Parents can also apply sunscreen (SPF15) to small areas like the face and back of the hands if protective clothing and shade are not available.

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ACTION STEPS FOR SUN SAFETY FROM THE USEPA

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DO NOT BURN . Sunburns significantly increase one’s lifetime risk of developing skin cancer, especially for children .

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AVOID TANNING AND TANNING BEDS. UV light from tanning beds and the sun causes skin cancer and wrinkling.

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WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. That is, long-sleeved shirts, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses, whenever possible.

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SEEK SHADE. A nd remember that the sun’s UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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USE EXTRA CAUTION NEAR WATER, SNOW AND SAND. Water, snow and sand reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.

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CHECK THE UV INDEX. The UV Index provides important information to help you plan your outdoor activities in ways that prevent sun overexposure. It is issued daily by the National Weather Service and EPA. UV INDEX Exposure Category UV Index Range Low 2 or less Moderate 3 to 5 High 6 to 8 Very High 8 to 10 Extreme 11+

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GET VITAMIN D SAFELY. T hrough a diet that includes vitamin supplements and foods fortified with Vitamin D. Don’t seek the sun . AND FINALLY,

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Sources: www.desertmap.org www.epa.gov www.skincancer.org www.webMD.com