Skin Cancer

Strategies for preventing skin cancer

Did you know that 40 to 50 percent of retirement-age people will have developed skin cancer at least once in their lifetime? Though that number looks scary, all skin cancers aren’t created equal. And there are many things you can do to reduce your risk.

Skin cancer is a cumulative disease in which your risks increase with longer exposure to the sun. People who have been sunburned or had prolonged exposure to the sun as children and teenagers have a greater risk of developing skin cancer. However, even if you spent every day on the beach and tanned to a deep shade of brown, it's still possible to start protecting yourself from further exposure. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat to shade your face. The more sun you get, the more likely you are to develop skin cancer, so protect yourself.

Recognizing Skin Cancer Symptoms

It's a great idea for those in the 50-plus group with no history of skin cancer to have a full skin exam by a dermatologist. They can look you over with a practiced eye and note anything that looks troublesome. The most common forms of skin cancer look like small red bumps or raised spots and can be smooth, waxy or varied in appearance. A flat, scaly patch could also indicate abnormal cells. These may be signs of either basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. You should have anything that looks out of the ordinary checked by a doctor.

The other type of skin cancer is melanoma, which is usually dark or black in color. This is the rarest but deadliest form of skin cancer, causing almost 80 percent of all skin cancer deaths. Potential skin cancer symptoms include sores that won’t go away, a mole that grows or has an odd shape or color, and any spot that itches or bleeds.

Skin Cancer Treatments

Skin cancer is highly curable when caught early. Removal of the cancerous spot is the first course of action. Your doctor can determine if there’s need for local radiation, or sometimes in the case of melanoma, chemotherapy.