Download Skin Cancer

November 13, 2007
Chapter: 31
Title: Noninfectious Diseases and Disabilities
Lesson : 2
Title: Skin Cancer
Grade Level:
High school freshman health class one week
before spring break
Skin Cancer Prevention
By: Lindsay Guckian
Sofia Barufaldi
Gregory Riherd
Joseph Plaza
Did you know?
 If you have had one or more severe, blistering
sunburn during your lifetime, you are at increased
risk for melanoma.
 More than 1 million new cases annually
 Only 1 in 7 high school students reported using
sun block with SPF 15 or higher
 1 in 5 Americans will develop some form of skin
cancer during their lifetime
What is Skin Cancer?
 Skin Cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of
the skin
There are three types of Skin Cancer
 Basal Cell Carcinoma
 Squamous Cell Carcinoma
 Melanoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma
 Accounts for 80% of all skin cancers in the U.S
 Arises from the basal cells, small round cells
found in the base of the epidermis
 Slow-growing cancer that seldom spreads to
other parts of the body, and generally is readily
treatable
 If not treated may erode into surrounding
structures
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
 The second most common form of skin cancer
 Approximately 250,000 new cases per year
 Begins in the squamous cells, which are thin flat
cells that look like fish scales and are found in
the tissues that forms the surface of the skin
Melanoma
 Is the most serious form of skin cancer
 Can be curable if detected early
 However, if it is not treated it can spread to other
part of the body an be fatal.
 It is estimated that in 2007
8,110 fatalities
5,220 in men
2,800 in women
Four Types of Melanoma
 Superficial spreading melanoma
 Lentigo maligna
 Acral lentiginous melanoma
 Nodular melanoma
Reported Skin Cancer Cases in
2007
4%
Basal Cell
Carcinoma
16%
Squamous Cell
Carcinoma
Melanoma
80%
American Academy of Dermatology
Warning Signs
A for Asymmetry
B for Border
C for Color
D for Diameter
• Report any changes to
your doctor
Risk Factors
 Lighter natural skin color.
 Family history of skin cancer.
 A history of sunburns early in life.
 Skin that burns, freckles, or reddens easily
 Blue or green eyes.
 Blond or red hair.
 Certain types and a large number of moles
 Frequent use of tanning beds
What about Tanning Beds?
Tanning Beds
 18-30 year olds who use tanning beds10 times or
more a year have a 7 times greater incidence of
melanoma.
 Tanning device users had
2.5 times the risk of squamous
cell carcinoma and1.5 times
the risk of basal cell
carcinoma.
Types of UV Radiation
 UVA
Responsible for aging and wrinkling.
 UVB
 Responsible for sunburns, cataracts, immune
system damage, and skin cancer.
 UVC
Most dangerous rays, however, they are
blocked by the ozone layer.
How to Protect Yourself
 Avoid the Strongest Rays of the Day
 Cover up
 Use Sunscreen Consistently
 Know about your medications
 Wear Protective Sunglasses
Proper Use of Sunscreen
 Sunscreen should be used if you are going to be
in the sun for more than 20 minutes
 Sunscreen should be applied 15-30 minutes
before sun exposure
 Use an SPF of 15 or higher
 SPF 30 is NOT twice as strong at SPF 15
 SPF numbers only pertain to their UVB blocking
ability
 Sunscreen does not block out all UV radiation
UV radiation changes
due to many things…
 Time of day
 Time of year
 Geographical location
 Altitude
 Clouds
 Environment
UV Index
UV Index
Number
0-2
Exposure Level Minutes to
Burn
Minimal
60
3-4
Low
45
5-6
Moderate
30
7-8
High
15
9-10
Very High
10
UV Index
http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/skinprotection/index_large.html
REMEMBER
 SLIP on a shirt
 SLOP on sunscreen
 SLAP on a hat