2008 Woodie Awards
May is Melanoma Awareness Month
Mary Jo Lomax
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: Features
Did you realize that skin cancers account for about half of all cancers in the United States? The more common skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, both of which are directly related to sun exposure. Less common, but much more dangerous - and deadly - is melanoma.
The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be approximately 62,480 new melanomas diagnosed and 8,420 deaths from the disease this year.
Melanoma is a cancer of the melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. A freckle is a concentration of melanin (pigment) and a mole is a cluster of melanocytes (melanin-producing cells). Melanoma is more likely to show up in a mole because it contains a high concentration of melanocytes. Melanocytes are mostly found on the skin, but are also found in the eyes, hair and mucous membranes, including the mouth and the vagina.
Sun exposure is the main culprit in the formation of both squamous and basal cell carcinomas, but for melanoma, it is only one of many factors. Other factors that increase the risk of melanoma are having a light complexion, including having blond or red hair and blue or green eyes, and having lots of moles or being heavily freckled.
Others at risk are people who have a family history of melanoma, take immune suppressing drugs (following an organ transplant, for example), or have a rare condition called Xeroderma pigmentosum.
The lifetime risk of getting melanoma is one in 55 for Caucasians, one in 250 for Asians and Hispanics, and one in 1,000 for African Americans. People with darker complexions are more likely to get melanoma on the soles of their feet or under their toenails or fingernails. The trunk is the most common site for melanoma to appear in men (about one out of every three occurs on the back) and for women it is the legs. The neck and face are also common locations.
Unlike most cancers, melanoma affects a broad age range. It's the most common cancer among 25 to 29-year-olds, and is the number one cancer killer of 30 to 35-year-old women.
As with all cancers, early detection is extremely important. You should become familiar with all of the various spots on your skin and conduct a thorough skin check once a month. Don't forget to check your back, scalp, ears, soles of your feet, palms of your hands and nail beds. Any new spots or existing moles, blemishes or freckles that have changed in size, shape, feel or color should be brought to the attention of a dermatologist for further examination.
For more information about melanoma and to download instructions for a skin self-exam, go to the Melanoma Education Foundation at http://www.skincheck.org.
Mary Jo Lomax is a health instructor at De Anza College. She stays safe in the sun, and you should, too.
The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be approximately 62,480 new melanomas diagnosed and 8,420 deaths from the disease this year.
Melanoma is a cancer of the melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. A freckle is a concentration of melanin (pigment) and a mole is a cluster of melanocytes (melanin-producing cells). Melanoma is more likely to show up in a mole because it contains a high concentration of melanocytes. Melanocytes are mostly found on the skin, but are also found in the eyes, hair and mucous membranes, including the mouth and the vagina.
Sun exposure is the main culprit in the formation of both squamous and basal cell carcinomas, but for melanoma, it is only one of many factors. Other factors that increase the risk of melanoma are having a light complexion, including having blond or red hair and blue or green eyes, and having lots of moles or being heavily freckled.
Others at risk are people who have a family history of melanoma, take immune suppressing drugs (following an organ transplant, for example), or have a rare condition called Xeroderma pigmentosum.
The lifetime risk of getting melanoma is one in 55 for Caucasians, one in 250 for Asians and Hispanics, and one in 1,000 for African Americans. People with darker complexions are more likely to get melanoma on the soles of their feet or under their toenails or fingernails. The trunk is the most common site for melanoma to appear in men (about one out of every three occurs on the back) and for women it is the legs. The neck and face are also common locations.
Unlike most cancers, melanoma affects a broad age range. It's the most common cancer among 25 to 29-year-olds, and is the number one cancer killer of 30 to 35-year-old women.
As with all cancers, early detection is extremely important. You should become familiar with all of the various spots on your skin and conduct a thorough skin check once a month. Don't forget to check your back, scalp, ears, soles of your feet, palms of your hands and nail beds. Any new spots or existing moles, blemishes or freckles that have changed in size, shape, feel or color should be brought to the attention of a dermatologist for further examination.
For more information about melanoma and to download instructions for a skin self-exam, go to the Melanoma Education Foundation at http://www.skincheck.org.
Mary Jo Lomax is a health instructor at De Anza College. She stays safe in the sun, and you should, too.
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