It’s
a little known fact that melanoma skin cancer is the most common type
of cancer diagnosed in women aged 25 through 29. According to the
Cure Melanoma Organization,
one
person
dies every hour from this often-preventable disease.
May
happens to be Melanoma Awareness month. The month is meant to spark
conversation around this common cancer and encourage people to check
their skin and visit a dermatologist regularly for their skin
examinations.
One of
the most notable initiatives during the May awareness campaign is
Melanoma Monday. Held on the first Monday of the month, the event
sees members of the Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) visit
Parliament Hill in the nation’s capital to provide skin cancer
screenings for all Members of Parliament, Senators and their staff.
The
annual May event highlights the importance of skin monitoring and
draws nationwide media coverage, which the organization uses to
promote skin cancer awareness. This year’s key area of focus is the
dangers of tanning beds.
Ahead
of this year’s event in Ottawa, the CDA released a video aimed at
teenagers and tanning bed users. Capitalizing on Prom Season, the
video entitled "You Got into That Bed", is a clever and
informative discussion about the risks associated with tanning beds.
The
video aims to drive home the important statistic that sunbed use
before the age of 35 years increases the risk of melanoma by an
incredible 35 percent.
"It
seemed like a natural fit for us,"
said
Dr. Vince Bertucci,
President of the CDA, "targeting Canada's most important
leaders, our elected officials, with one of Canada's most at-risk
populations, teenagers. In this way we hope to avert tragedy in both
current and future leaders."
In
Canada and across the globe, skin cancer is the most common and
prevalent form of cancer in humans. The number of those diagnosed
with Melanoma and other forms of skin cancer such as Basal Cell and
Squamous Cell Carcinomas continues to grow each year with roughly
85,100 new cases diagnosed in 2015.
At
this point, you may be asking, “Dr
Paul Lubitz,
what should I do to protect myself?”
As
this year’s Melanoma Awareness Campaign points out, avoiding all
exposure to tanning bed rays is the first step in protecting your
body’s largest organ.
Routine
checks for changing moles, skin discoloration, easy bruising and
other skin abnormalities are also key components to preventing skin
cancer. Research indicates that high-risk patients (people who spend
a lot of time in the sun, have a history of skin cancer in their
family, or have a fair skin type) that routinely perform skin checks
are much more likely to find any skin cancers including Melanoma in
its earlier stages. Consequently, by having their skin cancer
detected early, their chances of dying from the cancer were reduced
by as much as a 63 percent.
Today,
there are even mobile apps you can download on your phone or tablet
that can help you track and monitor mole growth, colour, size and
other changes. This data can be compared over time so you can stay on
top of your skin health.
The
regular application of sunscreen (an SPF of + 50 is recommended for
the Bow Valley), wearing sun protective head gear and clothing while
in the sun, and avoiding excessive sun exposure in the peak 10 – 2
hours of the day, are all important behaviours that will further
reduce your risks of developing skin cancer.
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