KEEPING CANCER FROM GETTING UNDER YOUR SKIN

Sheldon R. Braun, M.D., Wayland N. McKenzie, Ph. D., and Mary Andersen
Occupational Medicine, UMC

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Most rural people have probably worried from time to time about the amount of sun their skin is exposed to, especially in view of the increase in skin cancer in recent years, and because skin cancer is related to the amount of sun a person is exposed to in the course of a lifetime. However, people who work indoors most of the time, getting out into the sun for leisure activities, have a high risk of getting skin cancer, too. In keeping with the old saying about "all things in moderation," scientists now say that a little bit of sun on a regular basis is good for you.

A family history of skin cancer, fair skin and hair, a tendency to sunburn, and exposure to chemicals are linked to a higher risk of skin cancer, but no one is immune to it. Doctors recommend that everyone be on the alert for the warning signs of skin cancer.

For melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, just remember ABCD. A is for ASYMMETRY, an irregular shape. B is for BORDER. The edge of a melanoma looks uneven. C is for COLOR. A melanoma can have more than one color. D is for DIAMETER. Melanomas are usually bigger than the size of a pencil eraser. There are two other kinds of skin cancer, basal cell and squamous cell cancer. These cancers are usually cured, but they can cause problems if left untreated. Basal cell cancer looks like a small, fleshy bump. It grows slowly, and eventually begins to bleed and crust over. Squamous cell cancer may be a red, scaly patch or bump.

Although most skin cancer is found on the arms and legs, head, neck and shoulders, a thorough check includes looking between the toes and inside the mouth, and over all of your other 2000 parts.

Any existing mole which begins to itch, shows changes in size or color, or bleeds, should be promptly reported to your physician. Dr. William Robinson, head of the Melanoma Research Clinic, University of Colorado, advises physicians to remove such suspicious moles down to the fatty layer of tissue, regardless of whether the mole looks like what the textbooks call a "classic" skin cancer.

Meanwhile, avoiding too much sun is the surest way to prevent skin cancer and other skin problems. In the past, doctors have emphasized the need to avoid ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation, and as a result many sunscreens block only UV-B, while most tanning salons use only ultraviolet-A. However, now it is known that all ultraviolet has damaging effects. Use a sunscreen that blocks all ultraviolet, and avoid using tanning beds at all. Whatever sunscreen is used, it is absolutely necessary to follow the manufacturer's instructions about applying it, and to remember that none of them are 100% effective. Of course, clothing can also be helpful in blocking out the sun, provided it is thick enough.

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