Sun protection, early detection, keys to beating skin cancer

June 26, 7:42 PMTampa Mind and Body ExaminerNancy Nahas

A magazine article saved my life. Really.

With fair skin, blonde hair and freckles, I have always been aware of my higher risk for skin cancer. But living here in sunny Tampa allows me to exercise and recreate outdoors most of the year, and I got a little lax about wearing sunscreen. I had even been putting off seeing my doctor about a mole on my back that had worried me for at least a year.

“Just a Mole . . . OR Cancer?” jumped out at me from the magazine’s cover. I flipped directly to the photos and gasped. The photo of melanoma looked frighteningly similar to the mole on my back. I hopped up on the bathroom counter and lifted my shirt to get a better look. It was asymmetrical and two different colors with uneven edges. I called my doctor’s office to make an appointment and had the mole removed a week later.

I spend more time worrying about the health concerns of my kids than my own, but I have really never had any reason to. At 44, I have run four half-marathons, I eat healthy foods, I don't smoke, and, aside from a recent bout of acid reflux, have never felt healthier in my life. I was shocked two weeks later when my doctor told me the mole was, in fact, melanoma.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1 million skin cancers are diagnosed annually and one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Melanoma, the least common and the most lethal, is increasing at a rate of 3.1% a year, according to the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Melanoma, or the other two types of skin cancer, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, can all easily be cured if they are detected and treated early. If these cancers become more invasive, they can result in disfigurement and death.

While the fate of "Grey's Anatomy" Dr. Izzy Stevens, who discovered a malignant melanoma on her back that had metastasized, remains a mystery until the season premiere, my outcome was much better. At 1 mm in depth, my melanoma was just on the verge of becoming a more involved lesion. After a wide local excision of the area around the lesion (leaving a four-inch scar on my back) and removal of several lymph nodes, my doctors at Moffitt Cancer Center’s Cutaneous Oncology Clinic pronounced me cancer-free. I still see them several times a year, and have up-close and personal visits with my dermatologist. Just as important, I practice good sun protection habits.

The Warning Signs

June is National Skin Cancer Awareness month, so now is a great time to start doing monthly skin self-examinations to stay on top of any new moles or changes in existing moles. Follow the ABCD’s of melanoma: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color change, and a Diameter greater than 5mm.
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you see your doctor if you notice any of the following:

• A skin growth that increases in size and appears pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black, or multicolored.
• A mole, birthmark, beauty mark, or any brown spot that changes color
• A mole that increases in size or thickness
• A mole that changes in texture
• A mole that is irregular in outline
• A mole that is bigger than 6mm or 1/4”, the size of a pencil eraser
• A mole that appears after age 21
• A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab, erode, or bleed
• An open sore that does not heal within three weeks

Precautions

About 90 percent of all non-melanoma skin cancer and 65 percent of melanomas are directly attributed to UV radiation from the sun, as is the skin damage we associate with aging -- wrinkles, sagging skin, discoloration and leathering. With prime beach and pool season underway, you should follow some simple sun safety tips. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher as one important part of a complete sun protection regimen. Sunscreen alone is not enough, however. Here are some additional skin cancer prevention tips:

• Seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Do not burn
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day
• Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours
• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses
• Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months
• Examine your skin head-to-toe every month
• See your physician every year for a professional skin exam

Early detection and treatment is the key to beating skin cancer, so be alert to any changes in your skin. Follow simple sun safety rules to ensure you and your family are protected from harmful UV rays.

For more info: 

American Cancer Society

Skin Cancer Foundation 

National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention

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