SKIN CANCER

SKIN CANCER Objectives

 Students will be able to:
 Describe 2 differences between UVA and UVB rays
 List the three types of skin cancer and identify which is
potentially the most serious
 Identify at least 4 risk factors for skin cancer

 Recognize from a photo whether a mole is abnormal

 Identify the A,B,C,D,Es and ,E,F,G’s for evaluating moles

 Describe how to perform a skin check

 List 3 ways to protect yourself from the sun

 List at least 2 things to look for in a sunscreen product

 Describe how and when to apply sunscreen

 ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
UVA RADIATION
 95 % of the UV rays that reach
earth are UVA
 Relatively equal intensity of UVA
rays during all daylight hours
throughout the year
 can penetrate clouds and glass
 Penetrates skin more deeply
 Leads to wrinkling
 Considered a carcinogen
 Tanning beds have 10-13x
higher amount of UVA than sun
UVB RADIATIOIN
 Most blocked by ozone
 Highest intensity during mid-day
and during April-September in
northeast
 Somewhat blocked by clouds but
can also be reflected by clouds,
sand/concrete (25%), water
(100%), snow(85%); does NOT
pass through glass
 Leads to sunburn
 Considered a carcinogen
TYPES OF SKIN CANCER
BASAL CELL CARCINOMA
 Appearance
 Raised, translucent
 Age of Onset: >40
 Seriousness
 Seldom fatal
 Location
 Sun exposed skin
 More in Sun Belt?
 yes
SQUAMOUS CELL CANCER
 Appearance
 Flat, red, rough, dry, scaly
 Age of Onset: >40
 Seriousness
 Sometimes fatal
 Location
 Sun exposed skin
 More in Sun Belt?
 yes
MALIGNANT MELANOMA
 APPEARANCE
 Change in size, color, shape, surface or thickness of a mole,
freckle, birthmark, blemish or other pigmented lesion
 AGE OF ONSET: any age over 10

 SERIOUSNESS: can be FATAL if not found in time

 LOCATION: anywhere on the skin

 MORE IN SUN BELT? No

GOOD NEWS:
 EASIEST OF CANCERS TO SELF DETECT
 GUARANTEED CURABLE IF FOUND EARLY!
 REMOVAL PAINLESS, QUICK, IN DOCTOR’S OFFICE
 NO CHEMO OR RADIATION IF FOUND EARLY
AVERAGE LIFETIME RISKS of Melanoma
per 2014 Melanoma Education Foundation statistics

 WHITE Population statistics:

 1 IN 44
 On back/trunk - men; legs - women
 HISPANIC Population statistics:
 1 IN 250
 NATIVE AMERICAN Population Statistics
 1 in 350
 ASIAN Population statistics:
 1 in 800
 BLACK Population statistics:
 1 IN 1,100
 On feet, hands, under nails
A, B, C, D, E’S OF MOLES
 A=Asymmetry
 Both halves should look equal
 B=Border
 Should be sharp, clearly defined; not jagged
 C=Color
 Color should be uniform, not different shades
 D=Diameter
 Diameter should be <1/4” (size of an eraser)
 E=Evolving, expanding, enlarging
 A mole that is changing or getting bigger
NODULAR MELANOMA
 20% of melanomas are nodular
 Instead of A,B,C,D, the symptoms are ALL of the
following:
E = elevated
 F = firm

 G= growing

 Can become serious and spread more quickly than

radial melanomas
 MELANOMA SYMPTOMS
 It is important to realize that a mole may have some of the
characteristics described on the previous slide and NOT be a
melanoma. A biopsy is often the only way to distinguish an
atypical mole from a melanoma. OTHER WARNING SIGNS OF
MELANOMA INCLUDE:
 Change in the appearance of a mole, such as the spreading of
the pigment from the border of the mole into the surrounding skin
 A mole that looks scaly, oozes, or bleeds
 Itching, tenderness, or pain in a mole or lesion
 Brown or black streak that appears underneath a nail or around
the nail
 Bruise on the foot that does not heal
Let’s Review!
Turn to a partner and write down the answer to the
following:

 Describe 2 differences between UVA and UVB rays

 List
the three types of skin cancer and identify
which is potentially the most serious

 Identify the A,B,C,D,Es and E,F,G’s for evaluating

moles
 RISK FACTORS:
Inherited and Behavioral
 INHERITED (uncontrollable):

 >50 “normal” moles

 ANY atypical moles
 Fair skin, light complexion, blond or red hair,
blue or green eyes, freckles
 Family or personal hx of skin cancer
RISK FACTORS (CONT)
 BEHAVIORAL

 Any blistering sunburns under age 20

 Sporadic exposure of normally covered skin
 Regular use of tanning beds
 Frequent sunning
 SUN PROTECTION

 Protective clothing – light colors do not block

rays as well as darker colors

 Find shaded areas – beach umbrellas only

provide ~50% protection
 WHEN TO APPLY SUNSCREEN
Every day, 30 minutes before sun exposure

 REAPPLY after swimming, exercising, or every 2 hours

 NO SUCH THING AS AN ALL-DAY SUNSCREEN!

 Wearhats and protective clothing in addition to

reapplying sunscreen often
 HOW TO APPLY SUNSCREEN

 SHAKE WELL if a lotion

 Try SPRAY-ON OR STICK types of sunscreen if
lotion unappealing to you
 Use 1 ounce (~2 TBSP or one handful) for complete
coverage in a bathing suit
 Don’t forget to apply to EARS, BACK, SHOULDERS,
BACK OF KNEES, TOP OF FEET, LEGS & SCALP
 Careful application around eyes
 WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A
SUNSCREEN
 Broad-spectrum: UVA and UVB protection
 >SPF 15 (SPF=Sun Protection Factor)
 (SPF 15=93% UVB rays blocked; SPF 30=97% UVB rays
blocked; SPF 50=98% UVB rays blocked)
 Check expiration date
 Use WATER-BASED if you have OILY SKIN
 Try different brands to see which works best for your skin
 For face, use formulas specially designed for your face
 Look for stabilized avobenzone, ecamsule (a.k.a. Mexoryl™),
oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide on the label to
protect against UVA rays
TANNING
 Tanning beds contain 10-13x greater UVA rays
exposure than the sun

 The World Health Organization has determined that

UV rays from tanning beds cause cancer.

 Regular tanning (10x or

more/year) under age 30
increases risk for
melanoma 8 times!!
TANNING BEDS (cont)
 Melanoma isn't the only problem:
 people who use tanning beds are
 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma
 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma.

 Using a tanning bed for 20 minutes is the same as

spending 1-3 hours a day at the beach with no sun
protection at all.
 According to recent research, first exposure to tanning
beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75 percent!
UV Skin damage video

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9BqrSAHbTc
Let’s Review Again:
Turn to a partner and write down the answer to the
following:
 Identify at least 4 risk factors for skin cancer
 Describe how to perform a skin check
 List 3 ways to protect yourself from the sun
 List at least 2 things to look for in a sunscreen product
 Describe how and when to apply sunscreen
 Sources for Powerpoint
 Massachusetts Melanoma Education Foundation,
www.skincheck.org
 Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety,
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/phys_agents/ultravioletra
diation.html
 http://www.skincarephysicians.com/skincancernet/melanom
a.html
 http://www.skincancer.org/understanding-uva-and
 -uvb.html.
 http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/melanoma.
 http://www.mfne.org/ysii/materials/2013_HS_Multi_Signa
ture.pdf