SKIN CANCER
For most people, summer time is spent outside in the backyard, at the beach, grilling, or at the playground with the kids. While most people enjoy spending their summer days relaxing outside and soaking up the sun, those outdoor activities could come at a price. Increased time in the sun means increased possibility of skin cancer. The good news is that you can enjoy the sun if you use precaution and take steps to lower your risks.
Dr. Christopher Snead, at the CHRISTUS Cancer Treatment Center, said first to be aware of the condition of your skin. If you have a mole that doesn’t look right, see your primary care doctor or dermatologist. He encourages self-exams in the mirror, looking for any moles that are inflamed or change in size, shape, or color.
Snead also stressed the need to be sun smart and the dangers of tanning. “There is not a safe way to tan. Cumulated exposure to ultraviolet rays either from the sun or tanning beds are known risk factors for developing melanoma in one’s lifetime,” he said. “Blistering sunburns, especially in childhood, also increases the risk.”
Snead emphasized there is no way to eliminate all sun exposure.
“The best way to minimize harmful amounts of sun is the generous use of sunscreens, protecting the skin from sun by wearing loose fitting clothing which covers the skin, and wearing wide brimmed hats,” Snead said. “Even on overcast days one can be exposed to a tremendous amount if harmful sunlight.”
Another form of protection is by getting a skin screening. This is when a physician looks for cancer before a person has any symptoms. This can help find cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread. Snead said he recommends utilizing the annual free CHRISTUS Schumpert Cancer Treatment Center Skin Screenings to get an expert’s opinion. CHRISTUS partners with several dermatologists from the area including Dr. Donald Posner from Dermatology and Skin Surgery in Shreveport. Posner said a person who attends the screenings could save their own life.
“I am proud to be a part of this annual skin cancer screening. We save lives every year through these screenings, and it’s so beneficial to the community. Not only are the screenings free, but they also help educate the community on the ABCs of moles and offer an opportunity for people to be proactive in the fight against skin cancer.”
Snead said light-skinned individuals are more likely to develop melanoma.
It is important to realize, however, that dark-skinned individuals can also develop melanoma especially if there is a family history.
“Patients who have been previously diagnosed with skin cancer are at increased risk of developing another skin cancer,” he said. “They should closely inspect their skin and have a doctor perform a skin exam regularly.”
Although melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, there are other types people should be aware of.
“Three common types include squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and basal cell carcinoma. These cancers differ in their pathology (the way the cells look under the microscope) and in their behavior,” Snead said. “The most serious form of skin cancer is melanoma. Melanoma cases are rising steadily at an alarming rate. The biggest risk factor for developing a melanoma is sun exposure and blistering sunburns.”
Skin cancer like melanoma is usually treated surgically. Some patients may get a lymph node biopsy to see if the cancer has moved to the lymph nodes. Melanoma can also move through the blood stream. Sometimes melanoma diagnosed years ago shows up in distant organs like the lungs, liver, brain, or bones. There have been many new drugs recently approved for metastatic melanoma that can help people live longer and better. Unfortunately, there is not a cure for melanoma that has spread to these organs.
So, while you are out and about this summer, don’t forget these tips and take a proactive role in decreasing your chances for skin cancer.
