SharkBytes Bulletin Health Tips

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month
What is Melanoma Skin Cancer?
Submitted by: Jen Brandt, M.Ed., Assistant Director of Recreation and Wellness

You've heard the term "melanoma," but what does it mean? Let us help you understand. Cancer occurs when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all come about because of uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Different kinds of cancer can behave very differently. For example, lung and breast cancers are two diseases that grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. That's why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their kind of cancer.

Because they behave differently, skin cancers are divided into two major groups: melanoma skin cancer and non-melanoma skin cancer. Melanoma begins in the cells (malanocytes) that produce the skin coloring. Due to the fact that most cancerous melanoma cells continue to produce melanin, melanoma tumors are often brown or black.

Melanoma most often appears on the trunk of fair-skinned men and on the lower legs of fair-skinned women, but it can appear other places as well. While having dark skin lower the risk of melanoma, it does not mean that a person with dark skin will never develop melanoma. Melanoma is almost always curable in its early stages, but it is also likely to spread to other parts of the body. Most tumors of the skin are not cancer and rarely, if ever, turn into cancers.

Can Melanoma Be Prevented?

The most important ways to lower the risk of melanoma are to avoid being outdoors in intense sunlight for too periods, and to practice sun safety when you are outdoors. You can maintain your level of physical activity, and practice sun safety at the same time. Practicing sun safety includes:

Seeking shade - The simplest and most effective way to limit exposure to ultraviolet light is to avoid being outdoors in sunlight too long. This is particularly important in the middle of the day when ultraviolet light is most intense.
Protecting your skin with clothing - You can protect most of your skin with clothing, including a shirt with long sleeves and a hat with a broad brim. Fabric with tight weave generally provides the best sun protection.
Using sunscreen - Sunscreens with a SPF of 15 or more should be used on areas of skin exposed to the sun, particularly when the sunlight is strong. Always follow directions when applying sunscreen. To work best, you should apply sunscreen before you go outside, use it thickly on all sun-exposed skin, and reapply it every two hours. A one-ounce application (a palmful) is recommended. Many sunscreens wear off with sweating and swimming and must be reapplied for maximum effectiveness. Use sunscreen even on hazy days or days with light or broken cloud cover because the UV light still comes through.
Wearing sunglasses - Wrap-around sunglasses with 99 - 100% UV absorption provide the best protection for the eyes and the skin around the eyes.
Avoiding other sources of UV light - The use of tanning beds and sun lamps is hazardous because the ultraviolet radiation they deliver can damage your skin. There is growing evidence that they may increase your risk of developing melanoma. This is an area of active research.
Being especially careful about sun protection for children - Parents should protect children from excessive sun exposure by using the measures described above. It is important, particularly in high sun exposure parts of the world, to develop the habit of using sunscreen whenever you go outdoors.

Source: The American Cancer Society www.cancer.org

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