Health

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Offers Tips to Keep You Sun Safe

May 29, 2006

BOSTON (AScribe Newswire) — As the weather grows
warmer, people's thoughts turn to enjoying the sunshine and
outdoor activities. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute physicians
and nurses are encouraging people when they are outside,
whether they are spending a day at the beach or few hours
working in their yard, to be aware of the dangers of
overexposure to the sun and to practice sun safety.

Prevention and early detection are critical to reducing
the dangers of skin cancer and melanoma. "Warm weather is a
great motivator for people to get outside and reap the
health benefits of being more active," explained Stephen
Hodi, MD, clinical director of the Melanoma Program at
Dana-Farber. "At the same time, it is important that people
protect themselves from the sun and make themselves aware of
the signs and symptoms of skin cancer and melanoma to
greatly reduce their risk of developing these preventable
but dangerous diseases."

• To stay sun safe, remember to think about:

• - Applying a sun block with a rating of SPF 15 or higher

• - Reapplying sun block every two hours, and immediately
  after swimming or heavy perspiration

• - Providing additional protection by wearing a broad
  rimmed hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirts and pants

• - Avoiding excessive exposure to the sun, especially
  during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.>

Because sunscreen contains ingredients that lose potency
over time, bottles that have been sitting on the shelf for
more than a year may not provide adequate
protection. "People need to remember to look at the
expiration date on their bottle of sun block," explained
Hodi. "In general, we recommend that you change your bottle
of sun block yearly."

According to the American Cancer Society, more than an
estimated one million Americans will be diagnosed with basal
cell or squamous cell cancers this year, and more than
62,000 will be diagnosed with the most serious form of skin
cancer-melanoma. More than 10,500 deaths in the United
States this year will be due to a form of skin cancer.

Melanoma can be hereditary; people with family members
who have had melanoma are at a higher risk for
melanoma. People who have had melanoma and moles are at
greater risk of developing the disease. Excessive sun
exposure and sunburns increase a person's risk of developing
not only melanoma but other skin cancers as well.

Skin cancers present a range of symptoms. Melanoma symptoms
include changes on the skin, including new spots or moles or
existing spots or moles that change in shape, size and
color. Basal cell carcinomas usually appear as flat, firm,
pale areas or as small, raised, pink or red waxy
areas. Squamous cell cancer may appear as lumps with rough
surfaces or as flat, red patches that grow slowly.
Recognizing changes on the skin is key for early detection
and treatment of skin cancers. The American Cancer Society
recommends using the ABCD rule to help determine when a skin
or mole change should be seen by a physician:

• A for asymmetry: one half is differently shaped than the other

• B for border irregularity: jagged or blurred edges

• C for color: the pigmentation may not be consistent

• D for diameter: moles greater than six millimeters (the size
  of a pencil eraser)

People who experience any of these symptoms should notify
their physician immediately. Some skin cancers can be
removed by excising the affected areas; malignant melanoma
may involve removing the affected area, removing lymph nodes
near the area and may also include radiation therapy.

For more information about skin cancer, go to the
Dana-Farber web site, www.dana-farber.org/skin-cancer.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (www.dana-farber.org) is a
principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School
and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in
the United States. It is a founding member of the
Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), a designated
comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer
Institute.

Health: West Nile Virus Found in a Second Pool of Galveston County Mosquitoes in July

By Marilyn Clark
August 7, 2004
The second pool of mosquitoes was from a League City site.

Health: The Rose Helps Fight Breast Cancer and Osteoporosis