Jan. 24–30, 2005 Listen to the message

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers in America. The American Cancer Society predicts that in 2005 more than one million people will be diagnosed with one of three types of skin cancer. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will be diagnosed in more than 50,000 people, and more than 9,000 will die.

What Are the Three Types of Skin Cancer and How Serious Are They?

Basal cell carcinoma: Basal cell is the most common form of skin cancer, affecting more than 800,000 people in the United States per year. Basal cell cancer is named after the cells of the skin that are at the bottom (or base) of the outer layer of skin. Frequent and lengthy exposure to sun is the common cause of this skin cancer, so areas of the body that have a lot of sun exposure are the most likely to develop basal cell cancer, such as the scalp, face, ears, neck, shoulders, and back. People with light skin who burn easily, and people who work in outdoor jobs that exposes them to a lot of sun (for example farmers, construction workers, lifeguards) are at highest risk for developing this type of skin cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma has an extremely high cure rate and rarely spreads to other parts of the body.

Squamous cell carcinoma: Squamous cell is the second most common form of skin cancer, affecting more than 200,000 Americans per year. It is named after the cells in the upper layers of skin, called the squamous cells. This type of cancer can appear anywhere on the body, although it most commonly grows on areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun. Just as in basal cell carcinoma, people with light skin are at highest risk. However, people with dark skin can also get squamous cell carcinoma, usually at a place on the body where there was a previous injury or burn to the skin.

Squamous cell carcinoma has an extremely high cure rate. In a small number of cases, if this cancer is ignored, it can eventually spread out of the skin into other organs, causing death.

Melanoma: Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, affecting more than 50,000 people in the U.S. and causing death in more than 9,000. Melanoma begins in the cells that produce skin coloring, or melanin, so melanoma often causes a discoloration of the skin. Changes in color, shape or size of moles or freckles on the skin can be signs of melanoma.

If detected early, melanoma has a high cure rate, but because it can spread to other parts of the body quickly, it is the most dangerous type of skin cancer.

Who Is At Risk For Skin Cancer?

Anyone can get skin cancer, but certain groups of people are at higher risk:

Those with a fair or light-skinned complexion, light hair color and light eye color
Those who work or stay out in the sun for most of the day
Those with a family history of skin cancer
Those with a history of sunburns as a child and teenager
Those with a large number of moles or freckles

What Are the Signs of Skin Cancer?

Most skin cancers are highly curable. Early detection of skin cancer greatly increases the chance of cure. Here are some of the signs of skin cancer that you should look for:

Any change in the color, shape, or size of a mole
Bleeding or oozing from a mole
Any change in a normal part of your skin; for example, a bump or lump you have had for years begins to change color, shape or size, or begins to ooze
Patches of discolored skin or scabs that don’t heal
Itchy, tender or painful areas of skin that don’t improve

If you experience any of these skin changes, please get in touch with your doctor immediately.

How Do I Prevent Skin Cancer?

There are several things you can do to prevent skin cancer:

Protect your skin from the sun! This is the number one thing you can do to prevent skin cancer, and here are ways to do it:

Stay out of the sun as much as possible between the hours of 10 A.M and 4 P.M., when the sun is strongest.
Wear sunscreen with a Sun Protective Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher when you are outdoors. Wear sunscreen year-round; you are exposed to sunlight on cloudy, rainy, and winter days.
Wear protective clothing outdoors. When possible, wear a long-sleeved shirt, a hat that shades your face and neck, and sunglasses.
Do not sunbathe or use a tanning bed.

You should also inspect your skin from head to toe at least every three months. Tell your doctor about any changes you notice (see the section above).

Protect your children from the sun! Sunburns in childhood are a serious risk factor for developing skin cancer later in life. Teach your children the skin protection methods listed above.

Where Can I Get More Information About Skin Cancer?

For detailed information about skin cancer go to the American Cancer Society web site at www.cancer.org or the National Cancer Institute web site at www.cancer.gov. Another excellent site with clear, easy to understand explanations and photographs of the different kinds of skin cancer is www.skincancer.org.