Cancer Prevention: Know Your Moles

Has a mole that you’ve had since you were a child gone through some changes? Maybe it's a different shape or color, or it's just getting thicker and a little itchy? Have you recently found a new mole that doesn't look like the rest? If you can answer yes to at least one of these questions, then want to consider getting screened by a dermatologist for skin cancer. 

The internet is an abundant source of information about cancer types, prevention, and treatments, but all that information can be overwhelming and confusing. In keeping with our cancer prevention theme through the month of February, we have gathered some great information from our Certified Health Education Specialist, Casey Shelor. We hope this post will help eliminate some confusion with respect to the prevention of skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types of skin cancer—basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas—are highly curable. However, melanoma, the third most common skin cancer, is more dangerous. 

Here are some tips on reducing the chance of being diagnosed with any type of skin cancer, from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

Protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation is important all year round, not just during the summer or at the beach. UV rays from the sun can reach you on cloudy and hazy days, as well as bright and sunny days. UV rays also reflect off of surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow. Indoor tanning (using a tanning bed, booth, or sunlamp to get tan) exposes users to UV radiation.

The hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daylight savings time (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. standard time) are the most hazardous for UV exposure outdoors in the continental United States. UV rays from sunlight are the greatest during the late spring and early summer in North America. The CDC recommends several easy options for protection from UV radiation:

• Seek shade, especially during midday hours. You can reduce your risk of skin damage and skin cancer by seeking shade under an umbrella, tree, or other shelter before you physically feel a need for relief from the sun. Your best bet to protect your skin is to use sunscreen or wear protective clothing when you're outside—even when you're in the shade.

• Wear clothing to protect exposed skin. Loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection from the sun's UV rays. Keep in mind that a typical T-shirt has an SPF rating lower than 15, so use other types of protection as well. Also, a wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one. Darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors. If wearing this type of clothing isn't practical, at least try to wear a T-shirt or a beach cover-up.

• Wear a hat. For the best protection, wear a hat with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works best to protect your skin from UV rays. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through. A darker-colored hat may offer more UV protection. If you are wearing a ball cap, don't forget to protect the back of your neck and tops of your ears with clothing and/or sunscreen.

• Wear sunglasses. They protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts while also protecting the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side, and sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection. Most sunglasses sold in the United States, regardless of cost, meet this standard, but check the labels.

• Use sunscreen. Choose sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection. The sun's UV rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. Put on sunscreen before you go outside, even on slightly cloudy or cool days. Apply a thick layer (rub it in until it's gone) on all parts of exposed skin and get help for hard-to-reach places like your back. Sunscreen does wear off, so all sunscreens (even the "waterproof" ones) need to be reapplied after swimming, sweating or being outside for more than two hours. Check the sunscreen's expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years, but its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.

• Avoid indoor tanning. Using a tanning bed, booth, or sunlamp to get tan has been linked to an increased risk of skin cancers - including melanoma - and cancers of the eye. A recent study found that using a tanning bed - any type and for any length of time - increases a person's risk of melanoma by 74%. Some are likening the use of tanning beds by teens to the use of cigarettes, saying that it is a carcinogen and should be regulated in people under the age of 18. You have to ask yourself: Is a golden tan really worth dying for?

As always - know the facts, and do your part to protect yourself and your loved-ones from the potentially deadly effects of cancer. Skin cancer is preventable, and making the right choices can save your life.

Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap!

It's easy to get complacent about being outside in the sunshine - especially during the cooler seasons and in the early part of summer when the sun's rays aren't especially hot. But you can get a sunburn any time of the year, and therefore set yourself up for a potential skin cancer diagnosis in the future.

Sometimes it's assumed that a lot of exposure all at once is the most dangerous thing for you. While it's true that spending several unprotected hours in the sun can result in a red, stinging burn, lots of short periods of exposure can cause just as much damage even if your skin doesn't burn. The American Cancer Society has come up with a catch phrase we use in schools when we're providing sun-safety education: "Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap!"

• Slip on a shirt.
• Slop on sunscreen.
• Slap on a hat.
• Wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around them.

SLIP:
When it comes to clothes, longer is better. Longer sleeves and longer pants or skirts protect more of your skin from the sun. That may seem like common sense, but you might be surprised to learn that darker colors offer more protection than light ones. It's often thought that lighter colors are better because they will reflect the sunlight - but light reflection doesn't keep you from getting hit with those burning UV rays. This goes for other shade-providing items such as sun canopies and umbrellas as well. Don't assume that shade = sunburn protection! Pay attention to the weave of fabrics - the tighter the weave, the better protected you are. And while a t-shirt over your swimsuit may cover a few things you'd like to hide, it won't hide you from the sun! Wet fabric offers less protection than dry.

SLOP: 
There are a lot of things to consider when choosing sunscreen. In fact, it can be confusing at times and you can end up being less protected than you thought. Many groups, including the American Academy of Dermatology, recommend products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. The SPF number represents the level of protection against UVB rays provided by the sunscreen – a higher number means more protection. That said, the percentage of increased protection changes only 2% between SPF 30 and SPF 100. (97% vs. 99%) so if you're looking at a big price difference, it's fine to stay with the 30.

When using an SPF 30 sunscreen and applying it thickly, you can count one minute of UVB rays for each 30 minutes you spend in the sun. So, one hour in the sun wearing SPF 30 sunscreen is the same as spending two  minutes totally unprotected. However, many people do not apply a thick enough layer of sunscreen, so the actual protection they get is less. Lay it on thick, and try to do so at least 30 minutes before actually going out in the sun to let the product soak in well before you start to sweat or get it wet. To be sure you use the right amount, fill your palm to cover the arms, legs, neck, and face of the average adult.

Pay special attention to areas on your body that are not protected by clothing: the backs of hands, ears, face and legs. Don't forget the tops of your feet if you're wearing sandals! For best results, most sunscreens must be reapplied at least every two hours and even more often if you are swimming or sweating. Products labeled "waterproof" may provide protection for at least 80 minutes even when you are swimming or sweating. Products that are "water resistant" may protect for only 40 minutes. And drying off with a towel will probably rub it off, so be sure to reapply after you take a dip.

SLAP:
All hats are not created equal when it comes to sun protection. A hat with at least a 2- to 3-inch brim all around is ideal because it protects areas such as the ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp that are often exposed to intense sun. A shade cap (which looks like a baseball cap but has fabric draping down the sides and back) is also a good choice, and will provide more protection for the neck.A traditional baseball cap can protect the front and top of the head but not the neck or the ears, where skin cancers commonly develop. Straw hats are not as protective as hats made of tightly woven fabric.

WRAP:
UV-blocking sunglasses are important for protecting the delicate skin around the eyes, as well as the eyes themselves. Research has shown that long hours in the sun without protecting your eyes increase your chances of developing eye disease.

The ideal sunglasses do not have to be expensive, but they should block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB radiation. Be sure to check the label before you purchase. Labels that say "UV absorption up to 400 nm" or "Meets ANSI UV Requirements" mean the glasses block at least 99% of UV rays. Those labeled "cosmetic" block about 70% of UV rays. If there is no label, don't assume the sunglasses provide any UV protection.
Just as with the light vs. dark fabric surprise, you may be surprised to know that darker glasses are not necessarily better. UV protection comes from an invisible chemical applied to the lenses, not from the color or darkness of the lenses. Look for an ANSI label.

Large-framed and wraparound sunglasses are more likely to protect your eyes from light coming in from different angles and therefore protect the skin and your eye itself better. Don't forget the kids! Children need smaller versions of real, protective adult sunglasses – not toy sunglasses.They are more expensive, but they're worth it.

All this information and more can be found at the American Cancer Society's website. Including a Sun Safety Quiz to let you test what you've learned. Skin cancer is definitely preventable. Stay safe this summer and have fun for many years to come!

Here Comes the Sun!

We've harped about this a bit lately, but we really can't say it enough...

Wear sunscreen!!! 

If you don't believe us, check out this article from the Food and Drug Administration. It covers subjects like the cancer risk associated with tanning (and other risks), tanning for children and teens, and presents a brief story of one woman who was a sun worshiper and now - 25 scars later - regrets it.

Most disturbing is the review of 19 studies done over the course of 25 years that found evidence of:

• an association between indoor tanning and two types of skin cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma
• an association between UV-emitting tanning devices and cancer of the eye (ocular melanoma)
• both UV-A and UV-B rays causing DNA damage, which can lead to skin cancer in laboratory animals and humans
• the risk of melanoma of the skin increasing by 75 percent when tanning bed use started before age 35

According to the article, "Of the more than 68,000 people in the United States who will learn they have melanoma this year, one out of eight will die from it, according to National Cancer Institute estimates. In addition, the American Academy of Dermatology reports that melanoma is the second most common cancer in women 20 to 29 years old."

Some other things to think about...
Sunburns and sun damage (i.e. tanning) can occur when it's overcast outside, in fall and winter, and even through some clothing. The best way to protect yourself is to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen every time you are outside or in a vehicle - car windows don't have SPF ratings! - or to avoid the sun's rays completely by finding shade if you have to be outside.

Many kinds of lotion and make-up brands are adding sunscreen to their products, and a wide-brimmed hat (with or without a bow) will protect your face if you have sensitive skin.

Be sure to ask your child's daycare provider if they apply sunscreen when they take the kids outside. If they don't do it as a rule, be sure to let them know that your child needs it! Send a little bottle with his/her name on it if you have to. For some great info on sun safety for kids (and their parents!), check out this site.

It's easy to do, but you have to get into the habit. We watch what we eat, and try to get enough exercise, but our bodies can be healthy and still develop skin cancer. Care for your skin as seriously as you care for your other organs - you'll be glad you did.

Great News, and Even Better News!

First, the Great News...
We are always tremendously humbled and grateful for the support we receive from individual donors through memorials, annual gifts, and participation in our fundraising events. But, as any non-profit representative will tell you, grants and proposals that get funded are especially sweet due to the tremendous amount of work that goes into them. Research, forecasting and analysis of our programs and the demographics we believe will be served by the requested funding can be time-consuming, but doing them well is vital to being able to perform our mission in the way it needs to be performed. 

So, you'll understand our excitement about a grant that was awarded to Hope Cancer Resources in January by the Arkansas Cancer Coalition. We will receive $29,890 from the ACC for a Skin Cancer Awareness program that will be managed by Sandy Prince, our VP of Cancer Education and Prevention, and Rebekah Billingsley, our Community Cancer Education Coordinator. 

The purpose of the grant is to educate students in rural elementary schools, parents and children in the Arkansas Head Start programs, and college students at the University of Arkansas. We are also hoping to be featured at the Arvest Ballpark during Northwest Arkansas Naturals baseball games during the month of May - Skin Cancer Awareness month. 

The awareness education will be centered on the "Slip-Slap-Slop" campaign and will be interactive to show how to apply sunscreen correctly. The five basic steps are:

1. Shake the bottle well;
2. Use about 1oz. of sunscreen for the whole body;
3. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside;
4. Cover all skin exposed to sun
5. Reapply every 2 hours. 

We will use a twin image UV Detect Camera that is designed to reveal sun damage below the skin's surface to show some graphic images to those willing to see what the sun can do. On one side, the image is a normal black and white photo. On the other side, the image appears revealing hidden sun damage to the skin. We will put more information here about skin cancer in May... check back for that! 

and now, the Even Better News...
While receiving financial support is always good news for a non-profit organization, looking at how our programs benefit the people we serve makes us feel even better. Our mission is to provide compassionate, professional cancer support and education in the Northwest Arkansas region today and tomorrow - and our most recent departmental reports show that we are doing exactly that.

When donations are made to Hope Cancer Resources, the gifts have an immediate, positive impact on families in our area. In just the past six months, we have been able to:

• Provide distress screenings for 632 new patients;
• Purchase 363 prescriptions for 84 individuals as well as receive 54 medications through prescription assistance programs for a total financial value of $60,890.00;
• Provide 222 patients with financial assistance needs such as rent/mortgage payments, car payments, and gas cards for a total of $61,166.00 in assistance;
• Provide one-on-one counseling and support to 15 patients;
• Participate in clinical trials that complement the state-of-the-art research program at Highlands Oncology;
• Provide 51 patients with transportation to daily, weekly or monthly treatments as needed as well as to other medical appointments related to their diagnosis, traveling over 60,000 miles;
• Establish a volunteer program to serve cancer patients and caregivers in all clinics of Highlands Oncology Group.

What a wonderful result to the hard work of our staff and volunteers! We look forward to seeing what the rest of 2010 brings!