Protect and Check Your Skin to Lower Your Cancer Risk
While the sun may lift your mood and give you what you think is “healthy” color, a tan is actually visible proof that your skin has been harmed. That harm can result in skin cancer, and one in five Americans will develop the disease during his or her lifetime.
“The sun’s ultraviolet rays effectively subject your skin to a dose of radiation that attacks cells, damaging their DNA and causing them to grow out of control,” confirms Hillary Johnson, MD, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell. UV light from tanning beds is just as harmful—in the U.S., tanning beds are estimated to cause about 419,000 cases of skin cancer every year. The worst-case scenario is melanoma, a form of skin cancer that can be lethal.
Dr. Johnson says that being vigilant about monitoring your skin for signs of skin cancer, along with sun protection, are vital factors in avoiding both an initial diagnosis of skin cancer and its recurrence. However, research indicates that even people who survive melanoma often fail to protect themselves from the sun after the occurrence.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
You’re at higher risk of skin cancer if you have:
➤ A personal or family history of the disease
➤ Fair skin
➤ Red or blond hair
➤ Spent considerable time in the sun over many years
➤ A large number of moles, or a history of actinic keratoses (scaly pink or brown patches that are consid-ered to be the earliest stage in the development of skin cancer)
➤ Marked freckling of the
upper back
➤ A history of blistering sunburns and/or outdoor summer jobs for three or more years as a teenager
Melanoma recurrence more common
Research findings published in 2013 indicate that melanoma is more likely to recur 10 or more years after initial treatment than was previously thought; in the study, melanoma recurred in more than one in 20 patients.
Prior to the publication of this study, survival beyond 10 years without recurrence had been considered nearly synonymous with a cure—and most melanoma patients who remain disease-free longer than 10 years will not have a recurrence.
“That said, the data suggest that the risk of melanoma recurrence is never completely gone,” Dr. Johnson observes. “This means that melanoma sufferers need to be vigilant about getting a clinical examination at least each year with their dermatologist or primary care doctor, even if they don’t appear to have any suspicious moles or lesions.”
Protect your skin
Reducing your exposure to the UV rays from the sun is the only recognized modifiable risk factor for skin cancer—yet up to 40 percent of Americans skip using sunscreen even if they have had a melanoma.
“If you are spending any time in the sun, even in the winter, it is vital that you use SPF 30 or higher sunscreen that is labeled ‘broad-spectrum;’ this means that it protects against both UVA and UVB light,” says Dr. Johnson. “Don’t rely on cloud cover to protect you—about 80 percent of the sun’s rays can filter through clouds.”
Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes prior to sun exposure, and be sure to use a sufficient amount—at least an ounce, which is roughly enough to fill a shot glass. “Cover any exposed skin, including your ears, lips, back of the neck, and scalp if your hair is thinning,” Dr. Johnson advises. “Reapply it every four to six hours, and always reapply it after swimming.” She adds that seeking shade during the sun’s strongest hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and wearing protective clothing are other vital components of sun protection.
Also, do a monthly self-check to monitor any moles, brown spots, and freckles. Perform this in front of a full-length mirror in good light, checking every part of your skin, including your scalp, underneath your breasts, fingernails and toenails, the soles of your feet, and in between your toes. Use a hand mirror to check your back and genitals.
Finally, Dr. Johnson notes that there is some evidence that skin cancer is associated with a higher risk of other types of cancer.
“If you’ve had skin cancer, stay up-to-date on cancer screening tests, such as colonoscopy and mammogram, and take steps to manage cancer risk factors; obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and excess alcohol consumption all raise the risk of cancer,” she says.
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