American Cancer Society stresses sun safety - Skin cancer on rise for all ethnic groups

More than one million skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the United States, more than cancers of the prostate, breast, lung, colon, uterus, ovaries and pancreas combined, according to a recent American Cancer Society report. Despite the fact that we know how damaging sun exposure can be to our skin, the number of skin cancers has actually been on the rise for the past few decades.

Ultraviolet (UV) exposure is associated with more than one million cases of basal and squamous cell skin cancers and some 60,000 cases of malignant melanoma in the United States each year, states the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures 2007.

While melanoma of the skin is primarily a disease of fair-skinned people, incidence rates of melanoma have increased in the past 16 years for all race/ethnic groups, particularly among Hispanics/Latinos, according to the society’s report. Approximately 5,735 new cases of the disease are expected in California in 2007 and 845 people may die of the disease this year.

Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to UV rays. Much of this exposure comes from the sun, but some may come from tanning beds. If skin cancer does develop, detecting it early is the best way to ensure effective treatment. For individuals at high risk of skin cancer, the society recommends regular skin examinations by an experienced physician and monthly self-exams.

“It isn’t possible or practical to completely avoid sunlight, and it would be unwise to reduce your level of activity to avoid the outdoors,” said Dr. John Morgan, PH, of the American Cancer Society’s Inland Empire Leadership Council. “Small amounts of sunlight also help the body to make vitamin D, which can be important for good health, but too much sunlight can be harmful.”

There are several practical precautions that limit the amount of exposure to UV rays. The American Cancer Society advises everyone to follow practical steps.

• Limit direct sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (when UV rays are most intense)

• Cover up with clothing and wear a hat whenever possible

• Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher

• Wear sunglasses that block UV rays

• Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps

• Protect children from sun exposure

For more information on warning signs and early detection of skin cancer, visit the American Cancer Society’s Web site, http://www.cancer.org, or call toll-free 1-800-ACS-2345. To reach the Inland Empire Community Office of the American Cancer Society, call (951) 300-1200.