Yes, it’s warming up, and we’re even getting a little sunshine here in Seattle. While the sun has so many mood enhancing properties, and it prompts our bodies to create Vitamin D, which is an essential vitamin for our wellbeing, there is such a thing as too much sun. We only need about 20 minutes of sun per day to keep our cell healthy. Beyond that, we’re risking developing skin cancer.
Skin cancer rates are on the rise. They’ve continued to increase and cause more deaths every year. At today’s rates, that means one in every five of us here in the US should expect a skin cancer diagnosis in our lifetime.1 Both my mother and my sister have had skin cancer removed from their faces. While they both had basal cell carcinoma, that doesn’t mean they’re safe from getting the deadlier form; plus, with two family members diagnosed with skin cancer, the likelihood of me contracting it goes up.
Skin Cancer: Rising Levels Because We’re Still Not Protecting Ourselves
The rising levels are a clear indication that the message is not getting out about how to prevent skin cancer. That prompted the U.S. Surgeon General’s new “Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer” study. It urges cooperation at the national level to prevent skin cancer. It also shows that we’re still using tanning beds, and they found that teens are far less likely to use sunscreen than the teens of ten years ago.2 It’s our incessant need to be tanned to look “healthy” that’s killing us. In fact, more people contract skin cancer from tanning than cigarette smoker’s contract lung cancer from smoking3.
Skin Cancer: Progress in Treatments
Fortunately, they’re making progress in treating skin cancer. But like all cancers, the earlier you find it, the better chance you have of beating it. Advanced forms of skin cancers are often incurable because the cancer has spread, or the tumors are large. That can mean disfiguring or deadly results.
Scientists identified the proteins that are critical in the role of how skin cells grow and multiply. They found that in basal cell carcinoma, the most common form and the kind my sister and mom had, that UV radiation caused damage lead to mutations in the group of proteins that are essential for cell growth. That resulted in excess signals within the proteins which caused the cells to multiply rapidly which ultimately form a cancerous tumor. While it’s rare, basal cell carcinoma can progress by invading the surrounding tissues or by spreading to other parts of the body. These cannot be treated with surgery or radiation. Only medications can block the excessive signals that are occurring within the cancer cells in advanced cases.
Scientists also discovered a protein mutation that’s said to be responsible for 50% of the advanced cases of melanoma. It’s the deadliest type of skin cancer, and though the discovery was made in 2002, the FDA has just approved the medicines in the last few years to target this mutation. Additionally, drugs are now available to reduce the likelihood that the cancer will stop responding to treatment. More research has produced some promising drugs that activate the immune system to fight the cancer.
It’s because of these discoveries and a better understanding of the disease that has led to developing several options for treating advanced skin cancer that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Prior to 2011, it took decades and not months to create medical breakthroughs in skin cancer. It’s looking up for those with advanced skin cancer.
Skin Cancer: Change Your Habits to Avoid Developing It
But changing your habits to avoid skin cancer in the first place in the best option. First and foremost, if you’re using a tanning bed, stop. Then work to prevent sun damage by wearing a sun hat, covering up your skin outdoors, using a quality sunblock (I prefer organic sunscreens), wearing sun safe swimwear, and opting for shade during the hottest part of the day.
The goal is to avoid sunburns and meter your time in the sun so that you’re benefitting from the truly healthy rays it provides while making sure you avoid the damage and destruction it can bring.
Find out more about the real dangers of skin cancer: http://www.gene.com.
- Robinson, JK. Sun exposure, sun protection, and vitamin D – JAMA 2005; 294:1541-43.
- The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer: Department of Health and Human Services (2014) – Accessed Jan. 27, 2015
- Wehner M, Chren M-M, Nameth D, et al. International prevalence of indoor tanning: a systematic review and meta-analysis – JAMA Dermatol2014; 150(4):390-400. Doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.6896.
Background information provided by Family Features via Gene.com
Woman & dermatologist photo courtesy of Getty Images
Skin cancer is such a scary subject! It’s so important to get yourself checked out every year, especially if you live in a sunny climate!
I am going to be 40 in July. I had a skin cancer scare when I was about 23 or 24. My grandmother and a few of my aunts have all had to deal with skin cancer so its something I started being very proactive about at a young age after many years in the sun and tanning beds.
Cancer in any form is horrible! SPF is everyones friend this summer!
It is so important to take care of our skin! I try to remember to use sunscreen.
It is so very important to take care of your skin! I wear sunscreen all the time because I want to be a good influence on my daughter.
It is such a bad thing. I had a scare with skin cancer just a few months ago. Thank goodness all came back ok
Cancer is such a horrible disease. I am glad we are learning to be more aware or the causes and striving to find a cure. Thanks for sharing.
I had no idea the numbers were so staggering. It is so scary! I need to be mindful of protecting myself and my family.
My aunt has had skin cancer twice. It is so scary! I’m grateful we have options available to prevent it.
Everyone always think I carry sunblock with me because I burn easily. In truth, I’m afraid of developing skin cancer. Thank you for helping get the word out.
As someone who has had many family members affected by various cancers, I take any cancer risk seriously. I’m going to start protecting myself from developing skin cancer better.
There are so many people who don’t really understand how dangerous the sun can be. These are such great things to consider when going outside!
My aunt at the end of last week had skin cancer removed from her nose. She said it wasn’t Melanoma though, I’m happy to say.
My husband has a strange spot that needs to be looked at. This just reminded me to make that appointment.
As someone who has had skin caner, I should do a better job of preventing any more. I am bad about putting on sun screen.
I take every precaution that I can, but still my dermatologist is always finding suspicious spots she wants removed every time I go in. It’s not fun, but at least she’s taking them off before they turn into something more serious.
I wish mine would remove them! I’ve had two different doctors look at several spots and they both say they’re fine. I’m going to be very ticked off if they’re wrong.
I’ve always had VERY fair skin and I burn easily. The older I get, the more adamant I am about using sunscreen. It’s important to keep a check on ourselves…cancer runs in my family.
My Mom had skin cancer so I have always been very careful with my skin. Skin care is so important!
Great information, we are always diligent about skin care and take precautions!
Skin cancer is so scary. I’ve always had a fear I guess you can say, of the sun. My grandpa who I was very close to was allergic to the sun so it always kind of freaked me out! These are great tips!
I have a friend that has had skin cancer it and was quite eye opening when I started reading up on it. A really informative post that you wrote, thank you.
I sort of knew sun blocks weren’t popular with the youth but wow. That infographic is really helpful.
Yes to all the sunscreen, and in the past few years, I’ve taken to wearing a big floppy sunhat, too. I have melasma on my skin, which reacts to sunlight, and redheads for family members. We don’t take chances.
I am absolutely paranoid about protecting the family from the sun. We wear sun screen everywhere!
What a great informative post. I burn real easy, so I always use sunscreen when I am going to be outside.
This information is so important. We live in Georgia, so we have to always be extra careful of our sun exposure.
I never use sunscreen. I probably should, but I like to get a good tan in the summer.