Opening Statement:
With over 5 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year, skin cancer is America’s most common cancer. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers. By sharing facts about the dangers of unprotected sun exposure and encouraging people to check their skin for warning signs, is the only way we can and will save lives. Skin Cancer Awareness Month is a time for all of us to speak up about the dangers of skin cancer, share the facts, and help save lives.
Types of Skin Cancer
There are several different types of skin cancer, including melanoma, basal cell skin cancer, and squamous cell skin cancer.
1. Nonmelanoma skin cancer is a very common cancer in the United States, with more than 5 million people diagnosed each year. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are nonmelanoma skin cancers, are the most common types of skin cancer. Nonmelanoma skin cancers rarely spread to other parts of the body.
2. Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer. It is more likely to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body than the more common forms of skin cancer.
3. According to estimates made from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, 97,610 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma and about 7,990 people will die of the disease in 2023.
4. Melanoma is more common in men than women and among individuals of fair complexion. Unusual moles, exposure to natural sunlight or artificial sunlight (such as from tanning beds) over long periods of time, and health history can affect the risk of melanoma.
Additional Facts:
· In addition to the skin, melanoma may also occur in mucous membranes, thin, moist layers of tissue that cover surfaces such as the lips – or in the eye, which is called ocular or uveal melanoma.
· Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, didn’t make its way into recorded history until the 5th century B.C. Hippocrates, who first wrote about the disease, described it with the Greek terms ‘melas’ and ‘oma,’ meaning ‘dark’ and ‘tumor,’ respectively. There was little to no forms of treatment.
· Very little additional understanding of melanoma was gained until the 18th century when the doctor John Hunter first removed a metastatic melanoma. While his procedure was successful, he really wasn’t sure exactly what he had done. He referred to the melanoma as a “cancerous fungous excrescence,” and it wasn’t until 1968 that the preserved tumor was identified as melanoma.
· In the early 1800s, there were many advances in the medical understanding of melanoma. Dr. René Laennec was the first to distinguish melanoma, naming it ‘melanose’ in 1804. In 1826, Thomas Fawdington admitted that the medical profession was still very much in the dark about the causes of melanoma. Sir Robert Carswell later introduced the term ‘melanoma’ in 1838.
· In 1844, melanoma was still thought of as untreatable. Samuel Cooper famously said the only hope for those with melanoma was early removal. Still, there was experimentation. In 1892, Herbert Snow championed the treatment of removing not only the tumor but the surrounding gland as well. An important 1905 development in treatment by William Handley led doctors to remove all subcutaneous tissue and lymph nodes surrounding the melanoma, which remained in practice for 50 years.
· Modern knowledge of melanoma exploded in 1956, with the realization by Henry Lancaster that it was ultraviolet radiation and sunlight exposure that caused the disease. Today, we know that many genetic factors — like fair skin, family history, and eye color — all can indicate increased risk for melanoma, beyond simple sun exposure. Though there is a general understanding of how to prevent, identify, and treat melanoma today, research on the disease is still ongoing.
5 Facts About Melanoma
1. Melanoma Spreads Quickly
a. Melanoma can spread in the body more quickly and earlier than many other forms of cancer.
2. Melanoma Strikes Young
a. While the average age for other cancer diagnoses is around 65–70 years old, the average age for a melanoma diagnosis is 50.
3. There Are Many Risk Factors
a. Red hair, more than 50 moles, a family history of melanoma, sunburns in childhood, and use of a tanning bed are all risk factors for the disease.
4. Melanoma Is Very Treatable
a. While it’s true that melanoma can be deadly, it can be treatable if caught early — immediate detection is critical.
5. Stay Out of The Sun for Lower Risk
a. The most impactful way to lower your risk of melanoma is simple — practice sun safety and avoid being in the sun for long periods of time!
Closing Statement:
Some of us might be aware of skin cancer and melanoma, but not the signs to look for, how to prevent, or cure it. Knowing how to safely enjoy time in the sun and where to go to get a screening or treatment is crucial to lowering the impact of these various diseases and avoiding a diagnosis of your own. As always, be proactive and get a full medical checkup at least once a year with your health care professional. If your doctor or nurse practitioner wants you to have medical testing done, get it done without hesitation. Summertime is almost starting so be careful at the beach, pool, or walking around in the sun. Use protective sunblock whenever you are out in the sun for extended periods of time, even at an outdoor barbeque.
Source of Information: Various Google Searches
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!
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