The Sunny Truth Can Hurt

1. The Sunny Truth Can Hurt The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation

2. True or False? • A suntan is an injury to the skin T/F • In winter, skin does not need protection T/F • Sunblock should be applied every 2 hrs T/F • Tanning beds are healthy T/F • Too much sun is the main cause of skin cancer T/F

3. The “Good” Sun • Provides light • Keeps us warm • Helps plants grow • Provides us with Vitamin D • Makes us feel good

4. The “Bad” - Too Much of It... • Can burn or tan (injure) our skin • Causes premature wrinkles • Causes dark patches (age spots) • Suppresses the immune system • Causes cataracts and eye damage • Causes skin cancers

5. The Ugly • Skin cancer rates are rapidly increasing • 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer • 1 million cases (non-melanoma) per year • Skin cancers can be disfiguring and deadly

6. What Is Skin Cancer? • An abnormal overgrowth (tumor) of certain skin cells. • Benign (local, non life-threatening) • Malignant (invasive or spreads) • Can be deadly • Prevention and early detection is key

7. Why Is Skin Cancer Important? • It is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. • One death every hour in U.S. (melanoma) • Melanoma rates have tripled in past 30 years • Significant sunburns in childhood often lead to cancers • Younger people are being diagnosed @70% of adults do not use sunscreen

8. Causes of Skin Cancer Ozone Tanning • Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation from the sun • UVA - tan, burn, skin damage, aging • UVB - may cause melanoma, skin cancers • Tanning booths - UVA/UVB rays • Genetics - family history • Chemical agents - exposure to coal, arsenic 1 in 3 teenage girls (U.S.) uses a tanning booth

9. Risky Business Am I At Risk? • Fair skin and red or blonde hair • Light colored eyes • Sunburns easily - or uses tanning beds • Many moles, freckles or birthmarks • Frequent outdoor work • Childhood sun exposure; serious sunburn • Family history

10. A Note About Moles • Many shapes and sizes, colors and numbers • You could have 1 or 100 • Often don’t pose a problem or concern • Sometimes are dangerous or cancerous • Know your skin and look out for changes

11. How Sun Damages Our Skin • Sunburn and tanning - short-term • Prematurely aged skin - longer term • Wrinkles • Loss of elasticity • Dark patches ("age spots" or "liver spots") • Actinic keratoses • Skin cancers

12. Types of Skin Cancer • Squamous Cell CarcinomaUsually found on sun exposed areas (ears, face and mouth) • Symptoms - bump that turns into an open sore (red or crusty, gets larger, sore that won't heal) • If untreated can spread quickly (lymphatic blood and nerve routes)

13. Types (continued) • Basal Cell Carcinoma - Most common • Accounts for more than 75% of skin cancers • Mostly found on the face, neck, and hands • Highly treatable, rarely spreads • Symptoms - sore that oozes or bleeds, a red or irritated area, a yellow or white area (scar-like), and a pink pearly bump

14. Types (continued) • Melanoma-The most dangerous and deadly type • Can develop on any part of the body (arms, legs and trunk most common) • When found early, it is considered highly treatable.

15. Melanoma Symptoms • A mole, freckle, or new/existing spot • That changes color, size or shape • It may have an irregular outline and possibly be more than one color

16. A View of Skin Cancers Squamous cell Basal cell Melanoma

17. Additional Melanomas Not inclusive…may show up differently

18. Early Detection (ABCD and E) • A - asymmetry - one half of the mole does not match the other half. • B - border - the edges of the more are irregular, ragged, blurred or notched. • C- color - the color over the mole is not the same. There may be differing shades of tan, brown or black and sometimes patches of red, blue or white. • D - diameter - the mole is larger than 6mm (approximately 1/4 inch or about the size of a pencil eraser). • E - elevation - is almost always present (a mole may also be flat). • E - enlargement - a history of increase in the size of a mole is one of the most important signs.

19. Signs and Symptoms Overview • Any change on the skin (size, color or dark pigmented growth or 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 • Change in sensation (itchy, tender, or painful)

20. How Can I Protect Myself?

21. Prevention • Do Not Burn -Avoid sun tans and sunbeds • Apply Sunscreen “generously” - SPF 15 + • Wear *Protective Clothing when possible • Seek Shade (rays strongest between 10-4) • Use extra caution near water, snow, sand (they reflect damaging rays) * long sleeves, pants, wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses

22. I’m Protected! “My helmetkeeps me safe when I ride my bike on the street”

23. I am Not! “What will keep me safe out here”?

24. Detection - Skin Self-Exam • Inspect your skin monthly • Follow the A-B-C-D-E’s • Include hard-to-see areas (scalp, back, ears, buttocks, toes, etc) • Perform exam in well-lit area • In front of full-length mirror

25. Got Skin, Get Checked • Spots on the skin that are newor changingshould be evaluatedby a physician. Get checked every 3 years between ages 20-40 and every year over age 40 ACS guidelines

26. Treatment • Biopsy first, excision (surgical removal) of the growth if needed • More surgery if stage has progressed • Radiation or chemotherapy may be used • Photodynamic therapy (drug or laser, kills cancer cells)

27. How The Foundation is Helping • The Foundation was established with the vision to be "the voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure". • It's Mission and focus is on melanoma education, awareness and supporting research to bring about a cure for this deadly disease.

28. For more information on the Foundation, visit our website at www.melanomaresource.org.

29. Key Reminders • Skin cancers are on the rise and are serious • Excess sun is the main cause • Protection is key (sunblock, shade, etc) • Prevention begins in childhood • If found early is very treatable • Balance activity with protection

30. Love It…Know When to Leave it