Download Save Your Skin, Save Your Life! Risk Factors

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your own
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Save Your Skin, Save Your Life!
Your skin is the largest organ of the body. Skin covers and protects your
internal organs and acts as a barrier against germs. Skin cancer is the most
common type of cancer and accounts for nearly half of all cancers in the
United States. Learning the facts about skin cancer and what you can do to
prevent it is the first step in protecting yourself.
Risk Factors
Common causes of skin cancer include:
• A family history of skin cancer
• Having fair skin and light hair color
• Spending or having spent a lot of time in the sun
• Suffering at least one sunburn as a child (this greatly increases risk
of melanoma)
• Having many moles on your body, especially if they are large or unusually
shaped (not round)
What to Look For
Consult your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:
• any change on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole or other darkly pigmented
growth or spot, or a new growth
• scaliness, oozing, bleeding or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule
• a change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness or pain
• any sore that does not heal in a few weeks
Prevention
Know your skin,
practice “safe sun”
and have regular
screenings to take
care of your skin for
a lifetime!
Enjoy outdoor activities while practicing these sun safety tips:
• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are strongest.
• Look for shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Use sunscreen labeled “broad spectrum” with a Skin Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
Reapply regularly.
• Wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves, long pants, a hat with a wide brim and sunglasses
with 100 percent UV ray absorption.
• Protect yourself on cloudy or overcast days. UV rays travel through clouds.
• Avoid other sources of UV light such as tanning beds and sun lamps.
Types of Skin Cancer
There are two main types of skin cancer: non-melanoma and melanoma.
Non-melanoma is the most common type of skin cancer and starts in either basal or squamous
cells. There are more than 1 million non-melanoma cases diagnosed each year and the majority of
those cases are sun-related. These types of skin cancer tend to develop in the face, ears, neck, lips
and back of hands. They can either be fast or slow growing but rarely spread to other parts of the
body. If left untreated, basal and squamous cell cancers can be locally disfiguring.
• Basal cell carcinoma usually looks like a raised, smooth, pearly bump
• Squamous cell carcinoma is commonly a well-defined, red, scaling, thickened patch of skin
Melanoma is a more serious and dangerous type of skin cancer. The good news is that it is usually
curable when detected early. The American Cancer Society estimates about 76,100 new melanomas
will be diagnosed in 2014. Melanoma is one of the more common cancers in young adults.
Sources: American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org; National Cancer Institute: www.cancer.gov; Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
YOU can do it! – YourCare will support you along your way!
Talk to your doctor about skin changes and for more wellness support log in to NGSCoreSource.com
and select the HealthCenter tab.
Get inspired with YourCare support tools to help you achieve your goals:
Health Resources – Get support for specific health changes in areas like Physical Activity, Stress Management, Tobacco
and Weight Management.
Health Coaching – A completed Health Risk Assessment will determine if you’re eligible to work with a health coach.
Thirteen focus areas, including aerobic exercise, overeating, smoking cessation and stress management, can help you
get healthier and happier.
Self-Directed Programs - Get personalized plans, tools and resources with five self-directed programs: Balance - Manage
my weight; Nourish - Eat healthier; Move - Be more active; Relax - Deal with stress; and Breathe - Quit smoking.
The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll reach your personal health goals!
Remember, completing a Health Risk Assessment is a great first step!
NGS
A Trustmark Company
© 2014 Health Fitness Corporation