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Dermatologists Begin Free Skin Cancer Screening
Nationwide
Senior citizens are frequent victims from many years
in the sun
 May
3, 2005 – Yesterday was Melanoma Monday, which was the kick-off for free
skin cancer screening by dermatologists in many local communities. The
program will continue throughout the year and includes training on how
to conduct skin self-examinations and learn about the most common form
of cancer -- skin cancer. The underlying cause of skin cancer in older
people is often the accumulated damage of many years of excessive
exposure to the sun.
Skin cancer affects 1 in 5 Americans, yet it has a
95 percent cure rate when detected early. That's why the American
Academy of Dermatology (Academy) encourages everyone to perform a
monthly self-exam to look for irregular moles that are growing or
changing. Designated by the Academy as "National Skin Self-Examination
Day," Melanoma Monday is designed to raise awareness of melanoma -- the
most serious form of skin cancer -- and the steps the public can take to
prevent and detect this condition.
"Unlike other forms of cancer, skin cancer appears
on the surface of the skin -- making it easier to detect if you know
what signs to look for," said dermatologist Clay J. Cockerell, M.D.,
president of the American Academy of Dermatology. "The Academy's
national skin cancer screening initiative is an excellent way for people
to begin a lifelong habit of regularly examining their skin for these
early warning signs and avoid becoming a skin cancer statistic."
To find a free skin cancer screening in their
community, the public can visit the Academy's Web site at
http://www.aad.org/ or call 1-888-462-DERM (3376). In addition to
the public screenings, the California Society of Dermatology and
Dermatologic Surgery will host a screening at the California State
Capitol and the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology & Dermatologic
Surgery and the Melanoma International Foundation will present a
screening at the Pennsylvania State Capitol.
Despite the widespread availability of the
Academy's free skin cancer screenings, a recent Academy survey found
that only 33 percent of adults age 18 and older say they ever go to a
dermatologist for a skin cancer screening. However, the good news is
that 80 percent of adults say they examine their skin to look for
changes -- with women more likely than men to do so (84 percent vs. 75
percent).
Detection
Skin self-examinations consist of regularly looking
over the entire body, including the back, scalp, soles of feet, between
the toes and on the palms of the hands. To do a thorough exam, it is
important to use both full-length and hand-held mirrors so it is
possible to see the back of the head, back and buttocks. To determine
whether or not a mole is suspicious, it is helpful to keep in mind the
ABCDs of Melanoma:
-- Asymmetry - meaning one half of a mole is
different than another;
-- Border Irregularity - the edge, or border, of
melanomas are usually
ragged, notched or blurred;
-- Color - benign moles can be any color, but a
single mole will be only
one color. Melanoma often has shades of tan
and brown, black;
sometimes white, red or blue, within the same
lesion; and
-- Diameter - while melanomas are usually
greater than 6 mm in diameter
when diagnosed, they can be smaller. If a
mole is different from
others, or it changes, itches or bleeds, even
if it is smaller than 6
mm, see a dermatologist.
Since 1985, dermatologists have conducted more than
1.5 million screenings through the Academy's Melanoma/Skin Cancer
Screening Program and have detected more than 135,300 suspicious
lesions, including 15,600 suspected melanomas.
Prevention
Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor
for melanoma. The Academy recommends that everyone follow these sun
protection guidelines:
-- Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor
(SPF) of 15 or higher
that provides broad-spectrum protection from
both ultraviolet A (UVA)
and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply every
two hours for maximum
effectiveness;
-- Avoid outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and
4 p.m. when the sun's
rays are the strongest;
-- Seek shade whenever possible;
-- Wear protective clothing and accessories,
such as long-sleeve shirts
and pants, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses;
-- Follow the "Shadow Rule" - if your shadow is
shorter than you are, the
sun's damaging rays are at their strongest
and you are likely to
sunburn; and
-- Avoid tanning beds.
For more information about skin cancer, visit the
Academy's patient education Web site at
http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/ and select "SkinCancerNet."
There is also an excellent site about aging skin at
http://www.skincarephysicians.com/agingskinnet/.
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American
Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most
influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations.
With a membership of more than 14,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy
is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and
cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high
standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology;
and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier
skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at
1-888-462-DERM (3376) or
http://www.aad.org/ .
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