The Truth About Skin Cancer

I don’t often do demonstrations.  I don’t want to end up on YouTube.  But I want you to take a good look at this picture of me—and not just the fact that I’m wearing an amazing canvas sunhat. That is how you thoroughly protect yourself from skin cancer:  hat, glasses and sunscreen, every day.  I tell you this because I just had a mild disagreement with my husband about the importance of wearing a hat no matter how hot it is. Though my dear spouse is the color of printer paper, he insists on playing Russian roulette with his sun protection. So I figured that the least I could do is to relate the facts from the Skin Cancer Foundation that have finally convinced him to take this a bit more seriously.  

• Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in America.  Twenty percent of Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.  That’s 1 in 5, people! Forgoing sunscreen can be very dangerous!
• Basal cell carcinoma is the most common kind of skin cancer.  It’s usually not fatal, but treatment can be very disfiguring.  Plus, did you know that 90 percent of wrinkles and sun spots come from exposure to the UV (ultraviolet) rays of the sun?  Forgoing sunblock can make you ugly!
• The second most common form, squamous cell carcinoma, kills 2,500 people a year. Well, I’m sure you understand this one, but I will say that even though 2,500 is not a big number, it’s big enough.

And before you get all over my case for frightening you about cancer, let me just say this.  Ninety percent of all (non-melanoma) skin cancer comes from hanging out in the sun and with a million new cases diagnosed every year, it’s clear that some people haven’t been wearing their sunblock or wearing their hats.  Forgive me for being on my high horse, but I’m one of those types who thought just because I’m black, I don’t need sunblock.  Ha!  Did you know that the cancer that killed Bob Marley began as an aggressive form of skin cancer on his foot?  Well, people of all colors get skin cancer … no one is immune.  Melanoma, the cancer Marley had, is the most lethal type of skin cancer.  The American Cancer Society estimates that melanoma was responsible for the deaths of over 8,000 people last year.  But I say this only to encourage everyone to get regular sun screenings—melanoma can be successfully treated if caught early. For more info on skin cancer, including how to do a self-exam (important!), check out cancer.org. That’s it.  End of lecture.  Have a good weekend and don’t forget to wear sunblock!