May is National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. Skin cancer is the most common cancer of all cancer types with more than a million skin cancers diagnosed each year in the United States. It has been estimated that nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once.

Types of Skin Cancer

The three major types of skin cancer are basal cell, squamous cell carcinomas and malignant melanoma—the most serious type of skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that during 2005, more than 10,600 deaths resulted from skin cancer (7,800 from melanoma and 2,800 from other types of skin cancer). It estimated that in 2006, there will be 1,340 new cases of melanoma in the state of Tennessee alone.

Risk Factors for Developing Skin Cancer

• Light skin color, hair color or eye color
• Family history of skin cancer
• Personal history of skin cancer
• Chronic exposure to the sun
• History of sunburns early in life
• Certain types and a large number of moles
• Freckles, which indicate sun sensitivity and sun damage

Most of the environmental factors associated with skin cancer development are due to direct exposure of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Even on a cloudy day, 80 percent of the sun's ultraviolet rays pass through the clouds. UV rays from artificial sources of light such as tanning beds and sun lamps are just as dangerous as those from the sun.

What are Signs of Skin Cancers?

Skin cancer can be found early by frequently examining the skin for changes, including the following.

• New growths
• The size and color of a mole or other darkly pigmented spots
• Nodules on the skin that are scaly, tender or bleeding

Often, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape or color of an existing mole. It also can appear as a new or abnormal mole.

Thinking of "ABCD" can help you remember what to watch.

A  Asymmetry - The shape of one half does not match the other.

B  Border - The edges are ragged, notched or blurred.

C  Color - The color is uneven. Shades of black, brown and tan may be present. Areas of white, gray, red or blue may be seen.

D  Diameter - There is a change in size.

Normal	Melanoma	Sign	Characteristic
		Asymmetry	when half the mole does not match the other half
		Border	when the border (edges) are ragged or irregular
		Color	when the color of the mole varies throughout
		Diameter	if the mole's diameter is larger than a pencil's eraser

Skin Cancer Prevention

Have fun in the sun but protect yourself.

• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Apply sunscreen with a SPF factor of 15 or higher generously to all exposed parts of the body, including your ears.
• Wear a shirt, hat and sunglasses.

Talk to your doctor if you experience any of the above-mentioned signs or to obtain additional information. To make an appointment with a physician, call toll-free 1.877.UT.CARES (1.877.882.2737).

References
American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute
Center for Disease Control