BETHESDA, Md., April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Foundation for Cancer
Research wants to remind summer sun worshipers that skin cancer is the most
prevalent of all cancers, and one of the most preventable.
Prevention is the best line of defense, but when it comes to its early
detection, taking a good look at your skin could save your life. There are
different types of skin cancer that present themselves in different ways.
Look out for these signs, and see your doctor if you have one or more of these
symptoms.
* Pearly or waxy bump on the skin of your face or neck
* Flat, flesh-colored or brown, scar-like lesion on your chest or back
* Firm, red nodule or flat lesion with a scaly or crusted surface on your
face, neck, ears, hands, or arms
* Itchiness, tenderness or pain associated with lesion
* Any lesions that
- is asymmetrical in shape
- has an irregular or jagged border
- varies in color from tan to brown, brown to black or red to blue
- is bigger than the top of a pencil eraser
Those most likely to be affected by skin cancer are those with red or
blonde hair and fair or freckled skin that burns easily, those who have had
more than three blistering sunburns in the past, people with more than 50
moles, those with a family history of skin cancer and people over 50.
Protection from the sun is the single most important attack on skin
cancer. There are numerous safe tanning alternatives. Just make sure that
whatever you chose doesn't involve the direct rays of the sun.
Here are some preventative measures to use during outdoor summer fun.
* Reduce time in sun
Avoid mid-day sun
* Apply sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher
* Wear protective clothing and hats
* Avoid tanning parlors
Following are some startling skin cancer statistics that will make you
think twice before basking in the sun this summer.
* Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers, with 700,000 cases
diagnosed each year.
* Each year, 47,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma, the most
serious of skin cancers.
* Approximately 9,000 people die of skin cancer each year, with 7,700 of
those cases caused by melanoma.
* The probability of developing skin cancer in one's lifetime is one in
five.
* Nearly 50 percent of all Americans age 65 or over will develop skin
cancer at least once during their lifetime.
The National Foundation for Cancer Research presents this material as a
public service for Cancer Research. For additional copies or others in the
series call 1-800-321-CURE or write NFCR, 4600 East West Highway, Suite 525,
Bethesda, MD 20814. Please visit our Web site at http://www.nfcr.org.
The National Foundation for Cancer Research is a premier cancer-related
charity dedicated to advancing basic cancer research in the laboratory.
Formed in 1973 to support research related to the prevention, earlier
detection, better treatment, and cure of cancer, NFCR encourages and
facilitates collaboration and the sharing of ideas and results among
scientists by providing funding to more than 30 individual laboratories and 6
NFCR research centers. Through this type of support, advances in one field
can contribute to discoveries in others. To date NFCR has provided more than
$170 million to fund discovery-oriented research that has played a key role in
many current breakthroughs in the prevention, diagnosis and new treatments of
all types of cancer.
SOURCE National Foundation for Cancer Research
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Related links:
http://www.nfcr.org
CONTACT:
K. Denise Jennings of Logic Media Group,
615-301-8320, or e-mail, Denise@Logicmediagroup.com , for the
National Foundation for Cancer Research
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