Transcript “The Truth About Skin Cancer and Melanoma” The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation ...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure.

“The Truth About
Skin Cancer and Melanoma”
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Your Skin
The Body’s Largest Organ
Skin cancer begins in
the cells...
• Normal cells grow and
divide to form new
cells and millions die
every day.
• When the process
goes haywire, the cells
don’t die, they form a
mass of tissue called a
tumor.
Skin has two main layers…
•
Epidermis – outer layer
– Top layer comprised of flat cells
called Squamous.
– Beneath squamous cells are
small round Basal cells which
help protect the body,
– Melanocytes make up the bottom
layer and produce the pigment
melanin that causes the skin to
tan.
•
Dermis
– Beneath epidermis layer and
contains blood vessels and
glands.
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
What is Skin Cancer?
An abnormal overgrowth (tumor) of certain
skin cells that can result in:
Benign tumors (local, non life-threatening);
or
Malignant tumors (invasive or spreading)
Some skin cancers can become deadly!
Prevention and early detection is the key!
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Why is Skin Cancer
Awareness Important?
• Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer
in the U.S. – more than 1 million cases yearly.
• Only one blistering sunburn, especially at a
young age, more than doubles the chance of
developing melanoma skin cancer later in life.
• 75% of all skin cancer deaths result from
melanoma.
• One death occurs nearly every hour in the U.S.
from melanoma.
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Why Is Skin Cancer
Awareness So Important To
Youth?
• Skin cancer can strike at any age.
• People under age 30 are developing melanoma faster
than any group, soaring by 50% in women since 1980.
• Melanoma is the #2 most common cancer for ages 1529; and, the #1 cancer among young adults 25-29.
• Exposure to tanning beds before age 30 increases a
person’s risk of developing melanoma by 75%.
• Skin cancer can be disfiguring and deadly.
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Sun’s “Healthy Rays”
Provides light – visible spectrum to “see”
Infrared - keeps us warm
Photosynthesis - essential to plant growth
Make us feel good – elevates mood
Convert into electricity source
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Sun’s “Unhealthy Rays”
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Sunburn and tanning – short-term damage
Prematurely aged skin – long-term damage
Wrinkles - loss of skin elasticity
Eye damage and cataracts
Dark patches - age spots or liver spots)
Actinic Keratoses - pre-cancerous lesions that
look dry, scaly, and rough-textured
• Skin cancers!
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Causes of Skin Cancer
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation from the sun
Genetics – family history
Tanning booths
Chemical agents – exposure to coal,
creosote, arsenic
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Am I at Risk for Skin
Cancer?
Personal Risk Assessment
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Sunburn easily - or use of tanning beds
Many moles, freckles or birthmarks
Frequent outdoor sports/work/activities
Childhood sun exposure; serious sunburn
Fair skin
Red or blonde hair; light colored eyes
Family history
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Ethnicity & Skin Cancer
• Melanoma is uncommon in African
Americans, Latinos, and Asians, but is
frequently fatal due to late detection
• Squamous cell carcinoma is most common
to African Americans and Asian Indians
• Basal cell carcinoma is most common to
Caucasians, Hispanics, Chinese, Japanese
and other Asian populations
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation
• Invisible form of electromagnetic
energy emitted from the sun and
tanning beds
• Ozone layer above the earth
helps shield us from UV rays:
Source: EPA SunWise
– Most UVB rays (that cause sunburn) are
absorbed by ozone layer;
– Harmful UVA rays, however, which
penetrate deeper into the skin causing
damage, are not absorbed by the ozone.
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation
UVA Radiation
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Penetrates deep, a tan is the body’s imperfect defense
Injures skin’s DNA, causes cumulative damage
Equal intensity all daylight hours, penetrates clouds and glass
Key role in skin cancers, especially melanoma
UVB Radiation
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Chief cause of sunburn & skin reddening
Damage to skin’s more superficial layers
Intensity varies by season, location and time of day
Key role in skin cancers
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Did You Know?
The U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, and the World
Health Organization, classify
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun
and tanning beds as a human
carcinogen!
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Types of Skin Cancer
Three primary types of skin cancer
Basal Cell
- Usually occurs on areas of the skin that have been exposed to the
sun,
- Sore that oozes or bleeds
- A pink pearly bump
Squamous Cell
- May occur on parts of skin that have not been
exposed to the sun,
- Open sore that doesn’t heal
Melanoma
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Ugly
Irregular outline
Uneven color (black, brown and tan)
Growing - raised or elevated
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Types of Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma
The most common skin cancer in U.S. (75% +)
Found mostly on exposed areas – face most
common; also back, shoulders, neck, ears, hands
Highly treatable, rarely spreads or fatal
Can be disfiguring if permitted to grow
Symptoms
A sore that oozes or bleeds, a red or irritated area, a
yellow or white area (scar-like) and a pink pearly
bump.
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Types of Skin Cancer
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Is the most common skin cancer for people of dark skin –
occurs in areas not exposed to sun – e.g. legs and feet
Fair skinned people – occurs in sun exposed areas of body,
such as head, ears, face and mouth
Usually confined to the epidermis, but untreated can
metastasize to distant tissues and organs, and can be fatal
Can possibly evolve into melanoma
Symptoms
A bump that turns into an open sore that’s
red or crusty, gets larger and/or a sore that won’t heal.
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Types of Skin Cancer
Melanoma
The most dangerous and deadly type.
 Can develop on ANY part of the body (arms,
legs and trunk are the most common)
 Approximately 75 percent of all skin cancer
deaths are from melanoma
 When detected early, considered highly
treatable
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Melanoma Symptoms
• A mole, freckle, or new/existing
lesion, that changes color, size or
shape.
• May have an irregular outline and
may be more than one color.
See a spot, see a change, see a doctor!
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
About Moles
Ordinary Moles:
• Very Common - Most people have between 10 and 40 moles,
• Shape - Usually round or oval, can be flat or raised
• Color - Usually pink, tan, brown, or flesh colored.
Atypical Moles:
• About one out of every ten people have at least one unusual
mole which may look and act differently. Risk of melanoma if
higher number.
• Check moles regularly and see your doctor if any mole looks
unusual, grows larger or changes in color or shape.
Know the skin you’re in!
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Early Detection
Learn Your ABCD and 2 Es
• A – Asymmetry: one half of the mole does not match the
other half.
• B – Border: the edges of the mole are irregular, ragged,
blurred or notched.
• C – Color: the color over the mole is not the same.
There may be different shades of tan, brown or black
and sometimes patches of red, blue or white.
• D – Diameter: the mole is larger than 6mm
(approximately ¼ inch or about the size of a pencil
eraser).
• E – Elevation: is almost always present (a mole may also
be flat).
• E – Enlargement: an increase in the size of a mole is
one of the most important signs.
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Signs & Symptoms Review
• Any change on the skin (size, color or dark
pigmented growth of spot, or a new growth),
• Scaliness, oozing, bleeding or change in the
appearance of a bump or nodule,
• The spread of pigmentation beyond its border
(dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a
mole or lesion),
• Change in sensation (itchy, tender or painful).
See a spot, see a change, see a doctor!
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Detection: Skin Self-Exam
• Inspect your skin monthly
• Follow the A-B-C-D and 2 Es
• Include hard-to-see areas (scalp, back-side, ears,
toes, etc.)
• Perform exam in well-lit area
• In front of a full-length mirror
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Got Skin – Get Checked!
Spots on the skin that are new or
changing should be evaluated by a
physician/dermatologist.
Get checked every 3 years
(or more often depending on your risk factor)
between ages 20-40;
then annually over the age of 40.
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Are You Dying for a Tan?
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
The Truth About Tanning Beds
• Tanning beds release dangerously high levels of UV
radiation
Primarily UVA, which penetrates deeper and is linked to
melanoma.
• U.S. Federal Trade Commission in 2010
Reported deliberate tanning, either indoors or out, increases
your risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.
• World Health Organization in 2009
Moved tanning beds into their highest cancer risk category –
“Carcinogenic to humans” – same as arsenic and asbestos.
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
More Truth About Tanning Beds
• Further Reported from World Health Organization
Risk of melanoma is increased by 75% with exposure to
tanning beds before 30 years of age.
• U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services in 2009
Known to be a human carcinogen…exposure to sunlamps or
sunbeds increases the risks of malignant melanoma.
• Besides Skin Cancer - Both UVA and UVB rays
Damage the eyes and immune system; wrinkle the skin and
cause premature aging.
• Tanning is Addictive
No tan is a safe tan...
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
The Sunless Tan
• Sunless tanning products – applied correctly
are a safe alternative. There are lotions,
creams, gels and spray:
– Bronzers - wash off easily
– Self Tanners - using the chemical DHA approved by
the FDA (Dihydroxyacetone), reacts with dead skin
cells to temporarily darken the skin's appearance. The
coloring gradually fades. If sprayed, avoid exposure
risks around eyes, nostrils, lips or inhaling.
Remember! A broad-spectrum sunscreen must still be
applied out in the sun as recommended!
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Prevention
 Do Not Burn - Avoid sun tans and tanning beds
 Apply Sunscreen - “generously”, broad spectrum UVA
& UVB protection with SPF 30 or higher
 Wear Protective Clothing - long sleeves, pants, wide
brimmed hat, UV-protection sunglasses
 Wear Lip Balm - with a SPF 15 or higher
 Seek Shade - rays are strongest 10AM to 4PM
Use Extra Caution - near water, snow, and sand as
they reflect damaging rays
Get Vitamin D Safely - through a healthy diet that
includes vitamin supplements
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Sunscreen Facts
• Recommend SPF: 30+ (filters out 97% of UV rays)
- Applies only to UVB rays - no rating for UVA rays.
• Should be labeled “Broad Spectrum”
- Sunscreen that will protect against both UVA & UVB rays.
• Ingredients to look for:
- Avobenzone (parsol 1789), oxybenzone, mexoryl, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide
• Apply generously
• Apply before sun exposure - about 30 minutes before going outside.
• Re-apply - every two hours and after swimming.
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Key Reminders
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Skin cancer is on the rise and is serious
Excess UV exposure is the main cause
Protection is Key
Very treatable if found early - watch for it!
Tanning beds increase risk of melanoma!
Use sunscreen outdoors
• Prevention begins NOW!
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
How JMNMF is Helping
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation:
• Underwrites melanoma research at prestigious cancer
centers across the U.S., to advance discovery of
effective melanoma treatments and, ultimately, a cure;
• Distributes a comprehensive High School health
curriculum to teachers re: deadly risks of melanoma skin
cancer and “UV-safe” preventative practices;
• Manages numerous initiatives to ensure broader nat’l.
awareness of melanoma prevention and detection; and,
• Provides essential advocacy and care resources for
patients and the entire melanoma community.
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure
Contact the JMNMF
For more information on the Foundation or
how to help – please visit our website:
www.melanomaresource.org
Or, contact us directly:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (410) 857-4890
255 Clifton Blvd., Ste. 203
Westminster, MD 21157
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation
...the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure