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Skin cancer and melanoma can be prevented.
Many activities are being developed in order to prevent skin cancer after it has been decided that May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month.
Skin cancer is the most encountered form of cancer in U.S. because 5 million people need treatment every year. There are three types of skin cancer out of which one can be lethal. The first and the second most common types are squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma. The third one occurs rarely, but it is the most dangerous and aggressive one.
Fortunately, it consists of only 1 percent of all the skin cancer cases but it is the source of the highest mortality rate. Statistics of The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer showed that 1,174 people were diagnosed with melanoma in 2013 and 229 of them died.
According to Jerome Adams, State Health Commissioner, by protecting our skin, we can highly reduce the risk of skin cancer. We can do that by avoiding sun lamps, tanning beds and long exposure to the sun. Scientists established that the biggest skin cancer cause is the exposure to UV rays.
If someone gets sunburnt, it means he or she spent too much time exposed to UV rays. Unfortunately, over one in three Americans suffer from sunburns every year. As mentioned before, indoor tanning devices are a bad idea because over 400,000 cases of skin cancer of which 6,000 are melanomas are associated with indoor tanning in the U.S. every year.
Furthermore, Dr. Adams underlines that the conception of safe tan is false. If your skin is tanned, it means it’s damaged. Plus, people who use indoor tanning devices are more vulnerable to melanoma than the ones who don’t. People need to be educated so they can understand the danger of UV rays and the consequences of sun exposure.
The Surgeon General’s recommends people to use good sunscreen, wear sunglasses, hats, and long-sleeved pants and shirts. Plus, seeking shade during the hottest hours is crucial. Plus, in case someone develops the disease, early detection will prove to be vital.
Therefore, people are recommended to check their skin and visit their doctors on a regular basis, to prevent or detect skin cancer. A disease that is discovered early is easier to treat.
Image Source:Audubon Dermatology
