Skin Cancer Prevention Program

1. Skin Cancer Prevention Program Presented By: Cheryl Barber Spires OSU Extension, Fulton County, Maumee Valley EERA Prepared by: Dee Jepsen, Sereana Howard Dresbach, Jaime B. Chalk The Ohio State University

2. Skin Cancer: the most common cancer in United States • Occurrence rate of skin cancer is high • Mortality rate is lower than internal organ cancers • Skin cancer accounts for only 1% of all cancer deaths

3. What is Skin • Largest organ of the human body • Weighs about 6 pounds • Protects us against heat, light, injury, and infection • Regulates body temperature

4. What is Cancer • Occurs when healthy cells loose their ability to limit & direct their growth • Too much tissue is produced • These cells develop the ability to invade and tumors form

5. What is Skin Cancer • Most common type of cancer in the U.S. • Types of skin cancer: • Basal Cell Carcinoma • Squamous Cell Carcinoma • Melanoma

6. Basal Cell Carcinoma • Description: • Waxy skin eruption or small scaly patch • Smooth growth with raised border • Could be a smooth bump that crusts over or bleeds • May start as a pimple or sore that doesn’t heal • 95% cure rate • Men 2X as likely to get as women • Type that Presidents Clinton and Bush had

7. Squamous Cell Carcinoma • Scaly patch, small raised bump, or tumor • Can spread locally to lymph nodes • 95% cure rate • Head, neck, hands, lips (tobacco, cigarettes, and UV rays) • Men 3X as likely to get than women

8. Melanoma • 50% fatality rate • Men 2X as likely to get as women • Must treat early! • Description: • Mole that has changed • Multi-colored dark area on skin (reddish, bluish, brown, or black)

9. Skin Self-Exam:ABCD’s of Melanoma • Asymmetry • Border • Color • Diameter • Sensation

10. What Causes Skin Cancer • Ultraviolet (UV) Rays - 90% • UVA • Penetrates deep into the skin • Tangles the DNA • Skin does not appear smooth • Causes premature aging: wrinkles, leathery skin • Affects eyes: cataracts and corneal burns

11. What Causes Skin Cancer • UVB • Causes redness • Sunburns • UVC • Gets absorbed back into the ozone layer • Disclaimer: sunlight is good for your health. Your body needs small doses (30 minutes) a day for Vitamin D

12. Skin cancer is a result of U.V. exposure • Chronic • Wears down the skin cells & damages DNA • Diminishes the cell’s protective factors over time • Acute • Can do the same damage as chronic • Visible symptom is a sunburn • Skin cancer appears in adulthood

13. UV Exposure • Sun • Artificial sun • Growing Lights • Tanning Beds • Mostly UVA • Important to protect the eyes • Important to use skin creams • Only changes skin color, so you can still burn

14. “Safe Tan” • There is no such thing as a Safe Tan • Any tan equals damage to the skin • Overexposure to UV rays linked to: • Glaucoma • Diminishes immunization factors • Contributes to exhaustion • Lowers response rate

15. Skin Damage Prevention • Skin damage is largely preventable • People receive 50-80% of their lifetime sun exposure by age 18 • Incidentally, this is the same time period skin is the most vulnerable and should be best protected.

16. 2 Types of Human Risk Factors • Uncontrollable • Skin type • Hair Color • Age • Family History • Controllable • Can you name any of these?

17. Controllable Factors • Time of Day • Shade • Cloudy Days • Sunscreen • Protective Clothing • Drug Interactions • Check-ups

18. Final Thoughts….. • Skin is the largest organ • No skin transplants • Prevention is the best strategy for sun and skin safety

19. Protection from skin cancer is a personal responsibility BE A SUN SAFETY ADVOCATE! • Control for amount of time exposed • Time of day exposed • Use of protective barriers • Long sleeve shirts • Wide brim hat • Sunscreen • Sun canopy or tractor cab • Usually a gap between knowledge/behavior of protective factors and their benefits to reducing skin cancer • Acute symptoms can be recognized & treated, while chronic exposure is the invisible risk

20. The earlier we start practicing sun safety, the longer we will keep our skin healthy.