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PROVO -- The sun has finally appeared this spring and with it comes a reminder of the importance of protecting skin from its harmful rays, especially in the Wasatch Front's high-altitude.
Time: 8:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Utah County Health and Justice Building
151 S. University Ave., Suite 1709, Provo
The Utah County Health Department is keeping protection at the front of people's minds by offering free skin cancer screenings throughout the summer. The first took place June 8, with three more following at the end of June, July and August.
Doctors and medical personnel look for abnormalities that could be, or could lead to skin cancer and will refer to a doctor if abnormalities are alarming.
Facts about skin cancer
- Each year, 2 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed.
- Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is responsible for more than 75 percent of all deaths from skin cancer.
- Because of Utah's high altitude, people who live in Salt Lake City are at higher risk to develop skin cancer.
- Melanoma is the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults (15-29 years old).
- Five-year survival rates for melanoma caught and treated early, before it has spread, is 98 percent.
- Water reflects 8% of the sun's radiation
- Protecting skin during the first 18 years of life can reduce the risk of some types of skin cancers by up to 78%
Who is at risk?- Anyone with a personal or family (parent, sibling, or child) history of melanoma.
- People with light skin that burns or blisters easily and blue, green or gray eyes.
- People who experienced excessive sun exposure during childhood and teen years; blistering and sunburns before age 18.
- Anyone with one or more unusual moles — that is, moles larger than a pencil eraser, and moles with color variations and/or irregular borders.
- Fair-skinned men over the age of 50 are at increased risk to develop melanoma.
What can you do?- Use a broad-spectrum sunblock, one that blocks both UVA and UVB rays, and contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide and an SPF of 30.
- Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Apply sunblock 20 minutes before sun exposure and 20 minutes after going outdoors. Reapply every two hours.
- Wear protective clothing, including sunglasses, hats, and long sleeves.
- Watch your skin for changes and have a physician examine your skin annually.
The ABCDE's of skin cancer
You may want to get screened if you have a mole or skin lesion:
- Asymetry: if the lesion is irregular in shape or height
- Border: an irregular shape (not round)
- Coloration: changes, or is different than other moles, or is red or flaky
- Diameter: if the size changes
- Evoling: if the mole or leision is changing size or shape.