Download Background Information - Saskatchewan Cancer Agency

SKIN CANCER PREVENTION
May 2011
PART ONE
Background
Information
What is Skin Cancer?
 Cancer that forms in tissues of the skin
 Several types of skin cancer
 Most form in older people on parts of the body exposed
to the sun or in people who have weakened immune
systems
3
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
Skin Cancer Statistics – Canada
 Most common form of cancer in Canada
 An estimated 79,600 Canadians will be diagnosed with
skin cancer in 2011
o 5,500 diagnosed with melanoma
o 74,100 diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer
 An estimated 1,220 deaths from skin cancer will occur
in 2011
o 950 from melanoma
o 270 from non-melanoma skin cancer
4
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
Skin Cancer Statistics – Saskatchewan
 Of 8,930 new cancer cases in 2008
o 3,102 were skin cancer cases
 138 melanoma skin cancers
 2,964 non-melanoma skin cancers
 24 people died of melanoma in 2008
5
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
What Causes Skin Cancer?
 Sun exposure is the main environmental cause of skin
cancer
o Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the solar wavelength involved
– UVA & UVB
o Most significant preventable risk factor for developing skin
cancer
 Artificial tanning equipment – tanning beds, sunlamps,
tanning lights – also emit ultraviolet radiation
6
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
Types of Skin Cancer
 Non-melanoma
o Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
o Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
 Melanoma
7
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
 Most common form of skin cancer
 Occur on parts of the body excessively exposed to the
sun, especially the face, nose, ears, scalp, neck,
shoulders and back
 Seldom metastasizes (spreads) however causes
considerable damage to tissue
 Easily treated in the early stages however can be
aggressive requiring extensive treatment
8
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
 Second most common form of skin cancer
 Occurs most commonly in areas frequently exposed to
the sun such as, the rim of the ear, lower lip, face, bald
scalp, neck, hands, arms and legs
 If untreated can penetrate tissue causing damage and
metastasize (spread) to distant parts of the body
 With early detection almost always curable
9
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
Melanoma
 Most dangerous form of skin cancer
 Can cause serious illness and death
 Majority of melanomas are brown or black however
some are skin-coloured, pink, red, purple, blue or
white
 If treated early it is nearly curable however if not it can
advance and spread
10
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
ABCDEs of Melanoma
 A = Asymmetry
o The shape on one side is different than the other side
 B = Border
o The border or visible edge is irregular, ragged and imprecise
 C = Colour
o There is a colour variation with brown, black, red, grey or white within the
lesion
 D = Diameter
o Growth is typical of melanoma. It is usually more than 6 mm although it
can be less
 E = Evolution
o Look for change in colour, size, shape or symptom such as itching,
tenderness or bleeding
11
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
5 Steps to Skin Cancer Self-Exam
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
12
Using a mirror in a well lit room, check the front of your body –
face, neck, shoulders, arms, chest, abdomen, thighs and lower
legs.
Turn sideways, raise your arms and look carefully at the right
and left sides of your body, including the underarm area.
With a hand-held mirror, check your upper back, neck and
scalp. Next examine your lower back, buttocks, backs of thighs
and calves.
Examine your forearms, palms, back of the hands, fingernails
and in between each finger.
Finally, check your feet – the tops, soles, toenails, toes and
spaces in between.
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
Risk Factors for Skin Cancer
 Exposure to solar or artificial ultraviolet radiation
 Sunburns particularly during childhood and adolescence
 Fair or light skin pigmentation
 Lighter hair colour (blond or red)
 Lighter eye colour (blue, green, grey)
 Tendency to freckle, tan poorly and burn easily
 Family or past history of skin cancer
 Large number of moles or with one or more unusual moles
 Take medications that make one more sensitive to the sun
13
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
Vitamin D
 Sun is a main source of Vitamin D
 Amount of sun needed to make Vitamin D changes from
person to person
o It depends on age, diet, skin colour, where you live, time of
day, and time of year
o A few minutes a day is usually all that is needed for most
people
 Prolonged sun exposure or a tan is not needed to get
enough Vitamin D
14
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
 Established in June 2009
 Vision – aware and engaged communities throughout
Saskatchewan actively preventing skin cancer
 Create awareness of the risk for skin cancer from
ultraviolet radiation exposure
 Encourage other organizations, groups and individuals
to increase skin cancer prevention efforts
15
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
Questions
16
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011
For More Information Contact…
Sun Smart Saskatchewan via:
Saskatchewan Cancer Agency
Prevention Department
Population Health Division
400 – 2631 28th Avenue
Regina, SK S4S 6X3
P: 306-359-5877
www.saskcancer.ca
17
Sun Smart Saskatchewan
May 2011