Skin Cancer Awareness Month: May 2021
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and around the world: 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, and more people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the United States than all other cancers combined. The most common forms of skin cancer are these three types: basal cell carcinoma, which is almost always curable melanoma, which is curable if diagnosed early but life threatening if caught later and squamous cell carcinoma, which is also curable if caught but can be life-threatening if diagnosed late. Because of skin cancer’s high prevalence and common risk factors, including exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and tanning devices, raising awareness has become pivotal in the fight against it. That’s why each May is dedicated to spreading awareness and promoting treatment and diagnosis methods for skin cancer.
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Melanoma Awareness Month: Preventing And Identifying Melanoma
May is Melanoma Awareness Month, which gives us an opportunity to shine a light on the most dangerous form of skin cancer one can have. Read our melanoma awareness FAQ to learn more about how you can prevent and identify this deadly cancer.
May is Melanoma Awareness Month, which gives us an opportunity to shine a light on the most dangerous form of skin cancer one can have. Melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer, making up just 1% of skin cancer diagnoses. However, it is also the most deadly, causing an estimated 6,850 deaths a year in the United States alone.
The specialists at RI Skin Doc and Rejuvaderm want our patients to understand the dangers of this deadly condition, know the importance of skin cancer prevention, and feel empowered to identify potential melanoma so they can seek treatment as soon as possible. Read our melanoma awareness FAQ to learn more:
May Dermtech Ask The Expert Series
The Melanoma Research Foundations virtual live program goal is to continue to educate and engage the melanoma community. As we continue to educate the nationwide community about the seriousness of melanoma and the critical need for research, DermTech will be joining us this May to host various virtual educational and informational events with experts in the field of skin health.
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The Most Common Type Of Cancer
Read Time: 3 minutes
Though preventable, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. And the rate of skin cancer is continuing to climb. In fact, the number of people in the United States who have skin cancer is higher than the number of people who have all other types of cancers combined. This May, in honor of skin cancer awareness month, learn how to check for and prevent skin cancer.
Uv Safety Month Is July
July is designated as Ultraviolet Safety Month, during which the goal is to spread awareness about the importance of protecting skin and eyes from the harmful effects of UV rays. Some of the advice promoted includes covering up with a hat and sleeves to prevent overexposure, staying in the shade, and using a proper amount of effective sunscreen.
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You Can Prevent Skin Cancer
Some people are at a higher risk of skin cancer than others. However, regardless of risk, all people can and should take extra measures to prevent skin cancer. Check regularly for new or changing moles, know the ABCs of melanoma, and take extra steps to stay safe in the sun. Though skin cancer is common, skin cancer is preventable.
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Know How To Identify Melanoma
As with all cancers, the sooner treatment begins, the better your chances are of being able to remove it. The ability to identify a potential melanoma spot is the first step to ensuring that you can show it to your healthcare provider as soon as possible. If you have any freckles or moles, be sure to check them regularly for any changes in size and texture. When performing a self-examination for melanoma, follow the ABCD method:
- Asymmetry: Melanoma lesions may be irregular in shape . Benign moles are typically round .
- Border: Melanoma lesions may have irregular borders . Benign moles usually have smooth, even borders.
- Color: Melanoma lesions may contain many shades of brown, blue, or black. Benign moles are usually a single shade of brown.
- Diameter: Melanoma lesions are often more than 6 millimeters in diameter . Benign moles are usually less than 6 millimeters in diameter.
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Skin Cancer And Melanoma Awareness Month: Innovations In Treating Advanced Melanoma
More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than with all other cancers combined, making it the most common type of cancer in the United States and worldwide. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.1 Fortunately, it is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. Raising awareness can help save lives, and thats why, each year, the month of May is dedicated to promoting prevention and diagnosis of and screening and treatment for skin cancerparticularly its most deadly type: melanoma.
In this article, well take a deeper look at melanoma: what it is, how its diagnosed, the latest treatment breakthroughs, the importance of treatment response monitoring for advanced melanoma patients, and how to get involved so that, together, we can end melanoma.
Tanning Beds Increase Your Risk Of Melanoma
If you want to tan, do it naturally. Indoor tanning increases your risk of developing melanoma before age 35 by 75%.
Tanning booths project unnaturally high levels of UV rays onto the body. The average amount of UVA radiation coming from tanning booths is four times as strong as what is emitted by the sun, even on a sizzling summer day.
Artificial tanning is so dangerous that some countries, like Brazil and Australia, have banned tanning salons.
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Treatment Of Skin Cancers
The main treatment for non-melanoma skin cancers is surgery. Treatment is usually successful as, unlike most cancers, non-melanoma cancers have a very low risk of spreading to other parts of the body .
Other treatments for non-melanoma skin cancer include freezing , anti-cancer creams, radiotherapy and a form of light treatment called photodynamic therapy .
The treatment used will depend on the type, size and location of the non-melanoma skin cancer you have.
Treatment for melanoma depends on the grade and stage of the cancer, as it can spread to other parts of your body. It can range from surgical excision for stage 1 and 2 cancers, to immunotherapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Your oncology team will provide you with a treatment plan and talk you through your options.
Have You Been Diagnosed With A Skin Cancer And If So What Type
Melanoma stage 3B. I have now been cancer free for 6 years.
Melanomas, from in situ to stage 4, and squamous cell.
Melanoma, BCC’s and squamous cell. Multiple excisions and MOHS procedures. Still dealing with regular and multiple AK’s with regular treatments
Melanoma when I was 29 years old.
Several BCCs and squamous on my face.
Melanoma, in situ, self-discovered, then treated by my doctor. 12 years cancer free! Husband had BCC.
First BCC diagnosed in August. Now melanoma diagnosed two weeks ago on my six-month checkup. Guess Im lucky to have had the BCC first so I had that checkup.
Tons of BCC and one squamous resulting in about 12 MOHS procedures. Started with yearly checkups, down to every 2 months. I’ve graduated to every 4 months now. Thinking of everyone and their experiences. Happy to hear the fortunate outcomes and devastated of the unfortunate outcomes.
Stage 1 Merkel Cell cutaneous right pinkie.
Melanoma Stage 1. Caught early, because my husband insisted, that it should be looked at when I was too scared to face what it might be. I’ve been cancer free for almost 4 years!
In the last 11 years have had melanoma, many BCC’s & squamous cell. Still going to the dermatologist every 6 months & still counting.
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Melanoma Skin Cancer Awareness Month May 2021
The number of detected skin cancer cases is growing with worrying rates. According to the US National Foundation for Cancer Research , over the past three decades, more people have been diagnosed with a form of skin cancer than all other cancers together.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. While it is less common than other skin cancer types as it only accounts for 1% of skin cancers it causes the majority of skin cancer deaths. This is because of its ability to spread to other organs and parts of the body very quickly if not detected and treated early.
Melanoma starts in the melanocytes, which are skin cells found in the upper layer of our skin. These cells produce the melanin pigment that determines the skins color and protects the skin from the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun.
According to the American Cancer Societys estimations in the USA, over 200,000 melanoma cases will be diagnosed in 2021. About half of these new melanomas will be noninvasive and confined to the top skin, and the rest of the cases will be invasive and could metastasize. Nearly 7,180 people in the USA are expected to die of melanoma by the end of 2021.
The ABCDE Rule is an easy-to-remember system which outlines the warning signs of melanoma:
A is for Asymmetry: Most melanomas are asymmetrical.
B is for Border: The edges are irregular and uneven.
D is for Diameter: Melanomas may have bigger diameter.
E is for Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, or color.
-NHS, Skin Cancer .
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Stay Safe In The Summer Sun
One of the biggest causes of skin cancer is inadequate protection from the sun. People should avoid intentional tanning, including tanning in tanning beds. Some other sun protection tips include:
- Use sunscreen generously. Pick a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply every 2 hours.
- Seek shade when the sun is highest from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Take extra caution around reflective surfaces like water or snow.
- Focus on getting adequate vitamin D from a healthy diet and possible supplements.
What Are The Risk Factors
Skin cancer risk factors include: having a fair complexion with blonde or red hair, light skin, blue eyes and a tendency to sunburn or having a history of prolonged sun exposure. Other risk factors include excessive UV exposure, use of tanning beds and immunosuppression, or impairment of the immune system due to illness. There are several genes that are associated with the development of melanoma, suggesting that families can carry the risk of developing melanoma independent of sun exposure. Having had one melanoma puts an individual at increased risk of having another or more melanoma.
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How To Self Check Your Moles
When checking your moles, it is recommended to use both a full length and a handheld mirror so you are able to check your body all over. Stand in a well-lit room and ask a family member or your partner to help you check the hard to reach areas such as your back.
Donât forget to check less obvious places such as your scalp, the soles of your feet and in between your fingers and toes. It is a good idea to take photos of your moles so you can keep track of any changes.
Moles can look very different to each other which can make it hard to identify moles which may be worrying, but the key thing you are looking for is if your mole is changing. When checking your body for moles, you are looking for any changes to the size, colour of shape. You are also looking for itching, bleeding or crusting of moles which are signs you need to book an appointment to get your moles checked by a consultant dermatologist.
To help with this, an easy to remember acronym is often used for home mole checks to help you identify any worrying mole changes.
A: Asymmetry â moles should be symmetrical and a common sign of melanoma is an asymmetrical mole. If you were to draw a line through the middle of your mole or lesion and the two halves donât match, then you should get it checked by a dermatologist. A common benign mole is often round or oval and symmetrical.
Melanoma Cancer Awareness Month
This Melanoma Awareness month, wed like to take the opportunity to highlight how you can help in the prevention and early detection of melanoma and how you can support vital research focused on the early detection and better treatment of melanoma.
At Australian Cancer Research Foundation we award grants for innovative cancer research initiatives that lead to breakthroughs and discoveries that help each individual diagnosed with this complex and disruptive disease. In fact, an ACRF funded initiative is set to establish one of the largest melanoma surveillance and early detection programs in the world. Read more about the project here.
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How To Get Started Follow The Steps Below:
1. Registerfor our VIRTUAL Melanoma Awareness Month Miles for Melanoma 5K! Sign up today and invite friends, family and colleagues to join your team. Virtual participation is only $10!
2. Fundraise.Tell people why you are supporting the MRF and melanoma community, then ask for their support. Make it personal to make it powerful.
3. Walk or Runwith yourI Walk For banner wherever you are! You can download your banner here and send us your photos of you and your family from your local park or neighborhood, an iconic site in your area, your yard or even your living room!
4. Tune into our Melanoma Awareness Month Miles for Melanoma Virtual Celebration Ceremony on Tuesday, June 1st at 10am ET!
5. Make sure to use our NEW real-time app, available in app stores May 1st, to track your time, view the leaderboard and much more all in one place.
Don’t forget to submit your activity so we can track all of our miles throughout the month-long virtual event!
Submit your completed activity information HERE!
Click HEREto see all of the collective miles walked so far!
May Is Melanoma Awareness Month Which Means That It’s Time To Ensure You Know The Risks Of Melanoma Click Here To Learn More
Ah, sunshine! We love spending time in the sun and soaking up vitamin D. But, if you aren’t careful, that sweet sunshine can cause severe damage to your skin.
We’re talking about skin cancer, which is most often caused by too much exposure to UV rays. Skin cancer can be treated, but it can also be deadly.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread quickly throughout the body. It is dangerous and deadly, which is why melanoma cancer awareness is so important.
In honor of melanoma awareness month, we have compiled nine skin cancer facts every person should know. Let’s dive in.
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May Is Skin Cancer Awareness Month
With over 5 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year, skin cancer is Americas most common cancer. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 85 percent of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. By sharing facts about the dangers of unprotected exposure and encouraging people to check their skin for warning signs, we can and will save lives.
We cant do this work alone.
In 2021, for the second straight year, Skin Cancer Awareness Month takes place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though many of us are separated, we can still unite against skin cancer, and help save lives.
Melanoma & Skin Cancer Awareness Month: The History & Science Behind Sun Protection
May is both Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime. There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Melanoma is the most serious and deadly form of skin cancer. It can spread rapidly if not found and treated early. Melanoma develops in melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, a pigment that gives skin its color. While the exact cause is not known, exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or tanning beds increases the risk of developing melanoma.
Minnesota is one of the states with the highest melanoma rates. Melanoma rates in the United States doubled from 1982 to 2011 and have continued to increase in recent years. More than 100,000 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2020.
Melanoma is preventable with lifestyle changes. Limiting sun exposure and not using tanning beds are two key ways to reduce your risk. When you are in the sun, use protective clothing like a wide-brimmed hat, long sleeves and pants, and UV-blocking sunglasses. Sunscreen and sunblock are also extremely important in reducing your risk for all skin cancers.
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