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ROAD TO FITNESS
Know how to safeguard skin from cancer threat
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
With warmer temperatures, most of us are eager to spend more time outdoors. Unfortunately, as a result, the number of new cases of skin cancer in the United States is on the rise.
Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, affecting more than 1 million people each year. Melanoma causes the majority of cancer deaths and accounts for about 3 percent of cases. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008 there will be 62,480 new cases of melanoma in this country and about 8,420 deaths.
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Melanoma tends to occur at a younger age than most cancers, with half of all diagnosis made in people younger than 57. About 1 in every 30,000 girls aged 15 to 19 will develop melanoma, for boys in this age group, about 1 in every 15,000. Melanomas often start as small, mole-like growths that increase in size and change color. A simple ABCD rule outlines the warning signals of melanoma:
A is for asymmetry; one half of the mole does not match the other half.
B is for border irregularity, with edges that are ragged, notched or blurred.
C is for color, where the pigmentation is not uniform, with variable degrees of tan, brown or black.
D is for diameter greater than 6 millimeters. A sudden or progressive increase in size is a particular concern.
Rhonda Sparks is a mother of four who lost her 32-year-old husband to melanoma. "We were just so ignorant to the causes of skin cancer and how deadly it can be," she states. Spurred into action to help raise awareness about this potentially lethal disease, she began UV Skinz, which manufactures a line of UV protective swim shirts and accessories. The swim shirts are chemical free and offer all-day sun protection, carrying a UPF rating of 50+, which blocks out more than 98 percent of the sun's harmful rays. More information on these products can be found at www.uvskinz.com.
And for those dealing with compromised skin due to cancer treatments, there are products made especially to help alleviate side effects that can occur when undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. The Lindi Skin Collection (www.lindiskin.com) was launched by Lindy Snider, after watching her two closest friends go through cancer. She found them dealing with skin- related side effects she had never heard of previously. "Feeling good about yourself is important anytime, especially when you're experiencing side effects from cancer treatments. The products are unique not only for their ingredients, but because of the ingredients they avoid, specifically certain types of preservatives and fragrances that can irritate the skin" Snider states.
Early detection and prevention is critical when it comes to skin cancer. The sun's ultraviolet rays are strongest during midday hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), so exposure should be limited during these times. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) damages the skin in many ways, including accelerating the signs of aging, including wrinkles, leathering and fine lines, which can be seen as early as in one's 20s.
If you must be out, dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to help avoid overexposure. Also recommended are hats that provide shade to the face, neck and ears, and a long-sleeved shirt and long pants.
Children, in particular, should be protected from the sun because of the possible link between severe sunburns in childhood and greatly increased risk of melanoma in later life. Adults should practice skin self-exam annually, looking for any changes in skin growths or appearance of new growths. If suspicious lesions are found, a physician should evaluate these promptly. Basal and squamous cell skin cancers often take the form of a pale, waxlike, pearly nodule, or a red, scaly, sharply outlined patch. A physician should also check a sudden or progressive change in a mole's appearance.
Are tanning beds a good alternative? Tanning salons are a $5 billion industry, and 2.3 million American teenagers visit tanning salons every year. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a branch of the World Health Organization, reviewed 19 international studies and found a strong association between tanning bed use and melanoma risk. It was determined that those who have ever used tanning beds have a 15 percent higher risk of developing melanoma, and based on 7 worldwide studies, people who first use a tanning bed before age 35 increase their risk for melanoma by 75 percent.
Marjie Gilliam is an International Sports Sciences Association Master certified personal trainer and fitness consultant. She owns Custom Fitness Personal Training Services. Write to her in care of the Dayton Daily News, contact her at (937) 878-9018 or by e-mail at OHTrainer@aol.com. Her web site is http://www.ohtrainer.com.
