Prevention

Whenever one talks about prevention, the first question to ask is "how?" How does skin cancer occur? If we have some idea of how, then we can figure out means of prevention. There is much talk about the hole in the ozone layer adding to the increase in radiation received by our skin. Certainly, New Zealand and Australia, which have the highest per capita cases of skin cancer worldwide have experienced its effects. While UV radiation is the precipitator for most skin cancers and the environmental ozone problem is not to be discounted, the big picture is really in human behavior.

In the US, we’ve become a nation more oriented to short bursts of UV radiation through the increase in leisure activities, the quest for the "perfect tan,"and the sporadic use of sunscreen. Sunscreen which should be a daily activity like brushing our teeth, instead is used only when on the beach or at the pool and then often with a low SPF and an inappropriate amount applied. Tanning booths have become the hangout of teenage females. Sometimes they are even used as a "reward" by parents for good grades, especially at prom time or pre-vacation. The D.A.R.E. programs that have been instilled in our primary and secondary schools to teach the avoidance of drugs and to "Just Say No," should be a school district model for teaching sunwise behavior to our youths. Perhaps a picture of a tanning bed superimposed with the red slashed circle and a slogan saying, "Just Don’t Go" would begin to instill that the damage from these tanning parlors is cumulative, and can be fatal in the case of melanoma.

Skin cancer is an easily preventable disease that is readily ignored because when young, we feel immortal. And quite frankly, the idea of drugs, guns, and lung cancer from cigarette smoking seems a much bigger priority. But this is an easy one to tackle. We know the cause, UV radiation and genetic predisposition. We also know the incidence has increased 2000% since 1930. It only takes a few minor adjustments in behavior. Parents need to wake up to skin cancer. We need to protect our young people. As parents, school personnel, healthcare workers, and government policy writers, we owe the youth of today the lessons we have garnered. We have a responsibility to both actively model, and educate, our children about healthy sun-protective behaviors.

For the purposes of education, this section has been divided into two subheadings: prevention for everyone and prevention for those with a diagnosis of melanoma.

It should be emphasized that those with a diagnosis of melanoma should also follow all the suggestions under the first subheading.