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May 2009 - Skin Cancer Awareness

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. It occurs in more than a million people each year, including many older people. Approximately 65%–90% of melanomas, the most serious form of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to ultraviolet light or sunlight. With summer just around the corner, now is a good time to review ways to protect yourself against overexposure to the sun and to learn some of the facts about skin cancer.

Focus On Archive

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Articles

	Understanding Skin Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Skin cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up the skin. Normally, skin cells grow and divide to form new cells. Every day skin cells grow old and die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes, this orderly process goes wrong. Read More
	Protecting Yourself Against Skin Cancer (Center for Disease Control) It's not only baking on a beach or broiling beside a pool that increases the risk of skin cancer. If you spend time outside in the sun while working, boating, fishing, gardening, camping, playing sports, or just relaxing, you need to protect your skin from the sun. Read More
	How To Do a Skin Self-Exam (National Cancer Institute) Your doctor or nurse may suggest that you do a regular skin self-exam to check for skin cancer. It's best to begin by learning where your birthmarks, moles, and other marks are and their usual look and feel. Read More
	Light or Dark Hair, Melanoma Still a Risk (WebMD) Looks can be deceiving. New genetic research suggests that dark-haired people who do not sunburn easily may be at risk for potentially deadly skin cancer, too. Read More.
	Melanoma Detection: Waiting Is Risky for Men (WebMD) Melanomas detected in older men by a doctor are more likely to be treatable, according to a new study. But many men may be waiting too long before seeing a doctor about suspicious moles. Read More.

Related Resources

Protect your skin during the summer (part of Pfizer’s A Healthier World podcast series)
Skin Cancer Information (NIHSeniorHealth.gov)
Sun-Safe Guidelines to Reduce Risk of Skin Cancer (familydoctor.org)
Facts about Sun Screen (American Academy of Dermatology)