Valentine's Day Gift Idea for Senior Couples: Screen
the One You Love
Couples encouraged to examine each other for
suspicious moles that could be skin cancer. Researchers estimate that 40
– 50% of people in the U.S. who live to age 65 will have nonmelanoma
skin cancer at least once.
Feb.
2, 2009 – After 40 or 50 Valentine’s Days it gets a little tough to find
something for your spouse that is unusual. Here is an idea for senior
citizens from the American Academy of Dermatology that is certainly
unique and could be a life-saver. “Screen the One You Love” for skin
cancer they suggest, and they provide helpful tools to enhance your
success.
Based on current estimates, more than 1 million new
cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2009.
Performing regular skin self-examinations is an easy way to detect
suspicious moles that could be cancerous, and research shows that
involving a partner in the self-examination process can improve the
early detection of skin cancer.
In a study published in the Journal of the
American Academy of Dermatology, dermatologists found that people
who are assisted by a partner in performing skin self-exams are more
likely to follow a regular detection routine than those who rely solely
on themselves for motivation.
“Since skin cancer is the only cancer you can see
on the surface of your skin, it makes sense to ask a partner who
regularly sees your skin to assist you in performing a skin exam,” said
dermatologist C. William Hanke, MD, MPH, FAAD, president of the Academy.
“A partner can help you assess whether a mole seems
to be changing or shows any signs that could raise a red flag, and
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for people to start a new tradition
by giving each other the gift of a skin examination.”
The
Academy’s Body Mole Map is a tool individuals can use to track their
moles. The map provides information on how to perform a skin exam,
images of the ABCDEs of melanoma and space for people to track their
moles to determine any changes over time. The mole map is available at
www.melanomamonday.org.
“In my practice, oftentimes patients tell me that
their partner urged them to get an unusual-looking mole checked – and in
some cases these moles turn out to be skin cancer,” added Dr. Hanke.
“Early detection is crucial in the fight against skin cancer, so a
partner can be a tremendous ally by helping you examine hard-to-reach
spots and encouraging you to see a dermatologist if you notice an
unusual lesion or mole.”
One American dies of melanoma almost every hour
(every 62 minutes). The five-year survival rate for people whose
melanoma is detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is
99 percent.
For more information about skin cancer, please
visit the SkinCancerNet section of
www.skincarephysicians.com, a Web site developed by dermatologists
that provides patients with up-to-date information on the treatment and
management of disorders of the skin, hair and nails.
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American
Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most
influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations.
With a membership of more than 15,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy
is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and
cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high
standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology;
and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier
skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at
1-888-462-DERM (3376) or
www.aad.org.
Editor’s Note: The Journal of the
American Academy of Dermatology article is “Examination of mediating
variables in a partner assistance intervention designed to increase
performance of skin self-examination.” It was published in March 2007.
About Skin Cancer
By National Cancer Institute
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in
the United States. The two most common types are basal cell cancer and
squamous cell cancer. They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands
and arms. Another type of skin cancer,
melanoma, is more dangerous but less common.
Anyone can get skin cancer, but it is more common
in people who
● Spend a lot of time in the
sun or have been sunburned
● Have light-colored skin, hair and eyes
● Have a family member with skin cancer
● Are over age 50
You should have your doctor check any suspicious
skin markings and any changes in the way your skin looks. Treatment is
more likely to work well when cancer is found early. If not treated,
some types of skin cancer cells can spread to other tissues and organs.
Causes and Risk Factors - What Causes Skin
Cancer?
UV radiation comes from the sun, sunlamps, tanning
beds, or tanning booths. UV radiation is present even in cold weather or
on a cloudy day. A person's risk of skin cancer is related to lifetime
exposure to UV radiation. Most skin cancer appears after age 50, but the
sun damages the skin from an early age.
Melanoma is the most serious type of
skin cancer. Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the
size, shape, color or feel of a mole. Most melanomas have a black or
black-blue area. Melanoma may also appear as a new mole. It may be
black, abnormal or "ugly looking."
Thinking of "ABCD" can help you remember what to
watch for:
● Asymmetry - the shape of one half does not
match the other
● Border - the edges are ragged, blurred or
irregular
● Color - the color in uneven and may include
shades of black, brown and tan
● Diameter - there is a change in size, usually
an increase
Melanoma can be cured if it is diagnosed and
treated early. If melanoma is not removed in its early stages, cancer
cells may grow downward from the skin surface and invade healthy tissue.
If it spreads to other parts of the body it can be difficult to control.
Nonmelanoma skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma)
It is estimated that nonmelanoma skin cancer is on the rise and that 1
million cases will occur each year. Exact numbers of nonmelanoma skin
cancer cases are not readily available because most are treated in
doctors’ offices and may not be reported in cancer registries.
Researchers estimate that 40 to 50 percent of people in the United
States who live to age 65 will have nonmelanoma skin cancer at least
once.
Melanoma
The rate of new melanoma cases increased from 1973
to 1998, although the rate of increase has slowed since 1981. According
to the most recent data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End
Results (SEER) Program, NCI’s authoritative source of information on
cancer incidence and survival in the United States, for every 100,000
people in the United States, there are 17.7 new cases of melanoma each
year.
Incidence is higher for men than for women, but
young women have higher rates than young men. The overall incidence rate
for men is 22.5 per 100,000 compared with 14.4 per 100,000 for women.
The death rate is 2.7 per 100,000. Five years after diagnosis, 89.6
percent survive either in remission, disease-free, or under treatment.
Women have a 1.25 percent lifetime risk of being diagnosed, while men
have a lifetime risk of 1.77 percent.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Feb.
2, 2009 – After 40 or 50 Valentine’s Days it gets a little tough to find
something for your spouse that is unusual. Here is an idea for senior
citizens from the American Academy of Dermatology that is certainly
unique and could be a life-saver. “Screen the One You Love” for skin
cancer they suggest, and they provide helpful tools to enhance your
success.
The
Academy’s Body Mole Map is a tool individuals can use to track their
moles. The map provides information on how to perform a skin exam,
images of the ABCDEs of melanoma and space for people to track their
moles to determine any changes over time. The mole map is available at
(Patient
Education Institute) Also available in
(National Cancer Institute) 