Skin Cancer 101: PREVENTION IS KEY TO MITIGATING RISK
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. That translates to an estimated 9,500 people in the U.S. being diagnosed with skin cancer every day. The best way to mitigate your personal risk is to be informed. Chelsea Trask, Dermatology Physician Assistant at Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, provides important information surrounding this pervasive disease. TYPES OF SKIN CANCER Multiple types of skin cancers exist. The three primary types are basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is by far the most common type. This type often occurs in individuals with fair complexions, but any person of any complexion may develop BCC. For most people, BCC is not life threatening and very treatable when caught early. These cancers are typically found on the head, neck and arms but may appear anywhere on the body — including the chest, abdomen and legs. A common sign to look for is a slow-growing, non-healing spot that may bleed. “People will often come in, and I’ll see something on their arm. They’ll say, ‘It’s been there for several months, and I don’t know what it is, but it just doesn’t go away.’ That’s usually a cue we should biopsy it, especially if it’s been there longer than four weeks; that’s something we get a bit more concerned about,” states Trask. With squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the warning sign is something called an actinic keratosis – a dry, scaly patch on the skin caused by too much sun exposure. Studies have shown the conversion of these spots to SCC is about 10% over the course of 10 years. “This is why we try to treat these as soon as we can. We want to prevent them from progressing,” explains Trask.
Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. While sun exposure has an influence on melanoma, genetics is also a significant component. It can appear suddenly as a dark spot that looks different from other skin lesions on the body. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for melanoma, as it tends to spread to different parts of the body. PREVENTION TIPS Reducing sun exposure — or protecting against it — is an important way for people to prevent skin cancer from ever developing. However, many individuals don’t realize how much they’re being exposed to UV rays. “Even just driving in our cars or going into work daily, you’re getting a little bit of exposure. Making a habit of putting on skin protectant daily, such as mineral-based sunscreen, is crucial for preventing skin cancer,” urges Trask. She recommends sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above which contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, as well as wearing UV-protectant clothing. Trask also encourages individuals to take an overall healthy approach to life, such as eating a healthy diet with plenty of antioxidants and making an annual dermatology visit a part of that healthy lifestyle. “I recommend getting a full body check at least yearly. And, depending on what your dermatologist finds during the exam, you may need to come more frequently,” she shares. “For baseline, it is important to just get that initial visit in and make sure you don’t have anything concerning. As patients, we often don’t recognize things that might be more concerning on our skin, but we may notice something that is completely benign, and we’re not concerned with at all. So, it’s nice to also have that education during our visit.”
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