Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Most skin cancers are classified as nonmelanoma (basal cell or squamous cell) and develop on sun-exposed areas of the body. Although cure of these cancers is highly likely if detected and treated early, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas can cause considerable damage and disfigurement if left untreated.

Melanoma is a skin cancer that develops in melanocytes, the cells that produce our skin color. This type of cancer can spread quickly to other parts of the body. Even though melanoma is very curable when detected in its early stages, melanoma is far more dangerous than other skin cancers - it accounts for only 4 percent of skin cancers, but it causes about 79 percent of skin cancer deaths.

An average of 1,513 Ohioans were diagnosed with and 312 Ohioans died annually from malignant melanoma between 1996 and 1999. Approximately 60 percent of the deaths occurred in men and 40 percent of the deaths occurred in women.

Risk Factors

Several risk factors may contribute to the development of skin cancer. They include:

• Excessive exposure to UV radiation.
• History of sunburns early in life.
• Fair to light skin complexion (freckles are an indicator of sun sensitivity and skin damage).
• Gender (men are more likely to develop skin cancer than women).
• Age (about 50 percent of all melanomas occur in people over the age of 50).
• Race (risk of melanoma is more than 20 times higher for whites than for African Americans).
• Heredity (numerous moles, as well as certain types of high-risk moles, often run in families and may indicate high risk for melanoma; risk of melanoma is greater if one or more close relatives has been diagnosed with melanoma).
• Occupational exposure to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium.
• Over exposure to UV radiation by tanning booth use.
   

Prevention and Early Detection

Nearly all skin cancers are preventable by limiting unprotected exposure to the sun. When they do occur, most skin cancers can be treated successfully if detected early – even melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends the following for the prevention of skin cancer:

• Limit or avoid sun exposure during the midday hours (10 AM-4 PM).
• Cover as much skin as possible when outdoors.
• Wear a hat that shades the face, neck, and ears, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants.
• Wear sunglasses to protect the eyes.
• Use sunscreen with a solar protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
• Sunburn protection should be emphasized in children; severe sunburns in childhood greatly increase the risk of melanoma in later life.
• Minimize or eliminate use of tanning booths.
   

Signs of skin cancer are usually visible to a doctor or person who has learned the signs of skin cancer and regularly examines his or her own skin. Everyone should know his/her own pattern of moles, blemishes, freckles, and other marks on the skin, so he/she can notice changes during monthly examinations. Individuals who notice these kinds of signs should see their doctor immediately.

A simple ABCD rule outlines the warning signals of melanoma:

A is for asymmetry: one half of the mole does not match the other half.
B is for border irregularity: the edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.
C is for color: the pigmentation is not uniform, with variable degrees of tan, brown, or black.
D is for diameter greater than 6 millimeters: any sudden or progressive increase in size should be of concern.

Last Updated: 10/24/02

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