Vanguard

Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: News

As the spring passes and the summer is quickly approaching, one of the last things on every pleasure-bent mind is going to the doctor. But in a society that relishes in the look and satisfaction of a healthy-looking tan, going to the doctor is something that should be considered unavoidable. A "healthy-looking" tan is quite literally anything but healthy, and the more often you seek the sun, the more likely cancer will seek you.
Prevention is the greatest cure for any and all types of cancers.
On March 29 during the 31st annual Azalea Trail Run, thousands of runners celebrated the benefits of exercise and disease prevention with free skin cancer screenings in the Mobile Civic Center downtown.
The University of South Alabama's Mitchell Cancer Institute provided the free screenings of all the runners and anyone else wanting a checkup.
Dr. Adam I. Riker, chief of surgical oncology at the Mitchell Cancer Institute was on-site to screen patients and assist the volunteers and staff in screening patients.
"The major thing to consider to be proactive in preventing skin cancer is getting yearly screenings," Riker said. "Full-body, naked screenings is the only way to maintain healthy skin and to detect any suspicious spots or moles."
According to the American Cancer Society, these are the A,B,C,D characterstics of a "suspicious mole."
"'A' is for asymmetry; if one half of the mole does not match the other half. 'B' is for border; check for irregular, ragged, notched or blurred edges. 'C' is for color; the pigmentation is not uniform with different shades of brown and black, sometimes with patches of red, white and blue. 'D' is for diameter greater than 6 millimeters. 'E' is for elevation."
Skin cancer is 95 percent preventable, yet it is the most common type of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
The surge in the use of tanning beds to create a golden "glow" gradually increases a person's risk of cancer.
The other approximately 5 to 10 percent of skin cancer cases are from genetics, so everyone is immune to skin cancer and should get screened as a precaution.
"The highest demographic at risk are young, white females from 13-25 years old, particularly because they are most susceptible to beach tanning or using tanning beds and heat lamps," Riker said.
According to the American Cancer Society, there are two major types of skin cancer: melanoma and keratinocyte cancer. The most common and is usually treatable type of skin cancer is keratinocyte cancer.
The deadliest and least-common type of skin cancer is melanoma. This cancer is a more agressive form of skin cancer that first invades the outer layers of the skin by unnaturally increasing the production of melanin, or the natural pigments found in skin cells, and then proceeds inwards into the body when it grows, eventually attacking bodily organs and functions.
This is why it is of vital importance that young people should get screened for skin cancer as soon as possible, and not just because they see something that is suspicious. "You have to scare young people with the actual facts of what can happen to you if you don't regularly keep up with the health of your skin," Riker said. "We get over 200 cases a year at the Mitchell Cancer Institute of people in various stages of skin cancer, and in some cases, it is too late to implement any long-term treatments because they did not come in ahead of time."
So what can you do to preserve skin health? Slather on the sun block (SPF 15 or higher) is the first step. Staying out of the direct sunlight or even cloudy days between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. shields you from the damaging UV light rays. And although skin is always in when going to the beach, it is best to actually cover up from the sun to preserve not only your health but also your complexion. Prolonged sun exposure can cause more wrinkles on the face and neck. So although tan skin is quite popular, it is also important to realize that it is just a fad.

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