Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

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Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
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What is Cancer?

• Occurs when cells in a body part begin to grow
  out of control and crowd out normal cells.

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What is Skin Cancer?

• Skin cancer is the
  most common of
  
  all cancers.
• Most skin cancers are
• slow-growing
• easy to recognize
• relatively easy to treat when detected early

Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure
to ultraviolet (UV) rays, mostly from the sun but
also from tanning beds.
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The American Cancer Society Estimates

• More than one million new cases of basal and
  squamous cell cancers occur annually in the
  United States.
• The most serious form of skin cancer is melanoma.
  
• This year approximately 68,720 people will be
  diagnosed with melanoma and approximately 8,650
  will die.
• Melanoma rates are more than 10 times higher in
  Caucasians than in African Americans.

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Two Types of Skin Cancer

• 1. Non-Melanomas (most common skin cancers)
• Include Basal Cell and Squamous Cell Cancers
• Can be fast or slow growing, but rarely spread
• Found on sun exposed parts of body like the head
  and neck
• This year approximately 2,940 people will die
  from non-melanoma skin cancer

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Types of Skin Cancer

• Melanomas
• Can occur anywhere on the body
• Less common, but more serious
• Almost always curable when detected early
• More likely to spread to other parts of body
• This year approximately 8,650 people will die
  from melanoma

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What is Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation?

• Ultraviolet (UV) rays are a form of invisible
  energy given off by the sun
• UV rays are divided into 3 wavelength ranges
• UVA Rays, causes long-term skin damage such as
  wrinkles, but also play a role in some skin
  cancers.
• UVB Rays, direct damage to DNA, these rays cause
  sunburns, cause most skin cancers.
• UVC Rays, do not penetrate atmosphere, not
  present in sunlight.
• There are NO safe UV Rays!

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What is a tan?

• Tanning, like sunburn, is literally a form of
  skin injury.
• Ultraviolet radiation can damage your DNA at a
  cellular level, which can lead to cancer.
• Although people with light skin are more
  susceptible, darker skinned people can also be
  affected.

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What about tanning beds?

• There is no evidence that tanning in a bed is any
  safer than tanning in the sun -- in fact, some
  tanning beds release much stronger UV light than
  the sun does.
• There is a 75 increase in risk for melanoma
  among those who first use tanning beds in their
  teens and early twenties.

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What is My Risk For Skin Cancer?
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Who is prone to sun damage?

• Everyone!
• Everyone's skin and eyes can be affected by the
  sun and other forms of UV rays.
• Although people with light skin are much more
  likely to have sun damage, darker-skinned people,
  including African Americans and Hispanic
  Americans, also can be affected.

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Factors that Increase Risk of Skin Cancer

• Individuals who are lighter skinned, have
  freckles, and have blond, red, or light brown
  hair.
• Individuals who work outdoors and or live in high
  altitudes (due to increased UV rays).
• Prior treatment with immune suppressing medicine.
• Excessive exposure to light from tanning lamps,
  booths or sunlight.

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• How Can I Protect Myself From
  Skin Cancer?

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Steps for Sun Protection

• Limit your sun exposure during 10am-4pm
• Cover up your skin, especially your arms and
  legs.
• Wear a wide brimmed hat to protect eyes, ears,
  and face.
• Wear wrap-around sunglasses.
• Use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, and be sure
  to re-apply.
• Avoid artificial sources of UV light
  (tanning beds)

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What About Tanning Products?

• Tanning Pills
• The additives are distributed throughout the
  body, especially the skin, turning it an
  orange-like color.
• They are not approved for use as tanning agents
  and may be harmful.
• Tanning Accelerators
• Such as lotions or pills that contain the amino
  acid tyrosine or its derivatives, are not
  effective and may be dangerous.
• Bronzers and Extenders
• Not considered harmful when used properly. These
  products do not protect against UV exposure.

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• What Should I Know About Early Detection of Skin
  Cancer?

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When Should I be Screened?

• Get a cancer-related checkup by a doctor,
  including skin examination, every three years
  between ages 20 and 40 and annually for those 40
  and older.
• See a doctor immediately if you notice any
  warning signs.
• Its important to check your own skin, preferably
  once per month.

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What Should I Look For?

• Basal cell cancers and squamous cell cancers are
  most often found in areas that get exposed to a
  lot of sun, such as the head, neck, and arms, but
  they can occur elsewhere.
• Look for new growths, spots, bumps, patches, or
  sores that don't heal after 2 to 3 months.

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Use ABCD Rule to Spot Melanoma

• A (Asymmetry) one portion of the mole does not
  match the other
• B (Border) edges are irregular, notched, or
  blurred
• C (Color) different shades of black or brown,
  patchy colors
• D (Diameter) spot is 6 millimeters across, or
  growing larger

A
B
C
D
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Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma

• Change in the size, shape or color of a mole,
  such as
• Signs that a moles border is
  becoming more ragged
• Spread of pigmentation beyond its border
  
• Scaliness, bleeding or change in the
  appearance of a bump or nodule
• Change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness
  or pain in a mole or other growth

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How to Check Your Skin

• Face the mirror

Check your face, ears, neck, chest, and belly.
Women will need to lift breasts to check the skin
underneath.
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Face the Mirror
Check the underarm areas, both sides of the arms,
the tops and bottoms of your hands, in between
your fingers, and fingernail beds.
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Sit Down
Check the front of your thighs, shins, tops of
your feet, in between your toes, and toenail
beds.
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You will need a hand mirror for your thighs,
back, and scalp.Now look at the bottoms of
your feet, your calves, and the backs of your
thighs, first checking one leg and then the
other.
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Use the hand mirror to check the buttocks,
genital area, lower back, upper back, and the
back of the neck. Or it may be easier to look at
your back in the wall mirror using a hand mirror.
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Use a comb or hair dryer to part your hair so
that you can check your scalp.
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How is Skin Cancer Diagnosed?
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Skin Cancer Diagnosis

• History and Physical Exam
• Dermascopy
• Skin Biopsy

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• How Is Skin Cancer Treated?

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Treatment Options

• Surgery
• Cryosurgery
• Laser Surgery
• Skin Grafting Reconstructive Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation Therapy

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• Why Is It So Important To Get REGULAR Skin Cancer
  Screenings?

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Survival Rates for Melanoma

• Five-year survival rate when melanoma is found
  early at its earliest stage..99
• Five-year survival rate when melanoma is found
  after it has spread..18

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Three Things To Remember

• Nearly all skin cancers are preventable by
  limiting unprotected exposure to the sun.
• Most skin cancers can be treated successfully if
  detected early even melanoma.
• When out in the sun, seek shade and Slip! Slop!
  Slap! Wrap!
• Slip on a shirt
• Slop on SPF 15 sunscreen
• Slap on a hat
• Wrap on sunglasses

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If you are affected by cancer Call Us!
Having Cancer is Hard. Finding help isnt.
Information on Cancer. Rides to Treatment.
Financial Assistance. Wigs. Emotional Support.
All American Cancer Society services are free.
Call 1.800.ACS.2345 today!
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How to get involved
with ACS

• More than two million volunteers nationwide are
  currently making a difference in the fight
  against cancer.
• We invite you to join them.
• Volunteer in local cancer centers
• Provide rides to cancer treatment
• Join a community event
• Join ACS Cancer Action Network and contact
  legislators on cancer issues

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Want to learn more?
Call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org for
more information
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• Questions?