Help prevent skin damage by routinely wearing sunscreen. — Corbis
En español l The irony does not escape me that as I sit down to write this article on skin cancer, I have just had my own skin cancer scare.
As is so common, I had my share of childhood sunburns. So when my dermatologist examined the small lesion on my chest, we both thought it was cancerous. Luckily, we were both wrong.
Skin cancer statistics are stunning. Every year, 3.5 million skin cancers are diagnosed in the U.S., more than the tally for all other cancers combined. The deadliest form, malignant melanoma, will kill 9,700 people this year; the next deadliest, squamous cell, has increased 200 percent in the past 30 years. Fortunately, we've made tremendous strides in diagnosis and treatment.
Two technologies — MelaFind and dermatoscopy — use light waves and sophisticated data analysis to diagnose suspicious lesions. In a 2011 study, MelaFind was able to detect 98 percent of melanomas, compared with 78 percent by a dermatologist's examination alone. Because melanoma can be difficult to diagnose in its earliest stages, when it's most treatable, this is good news indeed.
On the treatment front, doctors are increasingly aggressive in attacking precancerous lesions with cryotherapy, phototherapy and topical chemotherapies such as trichloroacetic acid, 5-fluorouracil and ingenol mebutate.
Once a skin cancer is diagnosed, the first step is usually to surgically remove it. If that's not possible, the Food and Drug Administration has approved, in addition to topical chemotherapies, several medications — among them, imiquimod and ipilimumab — that treat skin cancers by activating the body's immune system.
The best treatment, of course, is to prevent skin damage in the first place. Be sure to wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 daily. And if you notice any of the American Cancer Society's warning signs, at right, see your doctor right away.
Nancy L. Snyderman, M.D., is the chief medical editor for NBC News.
You May Also Like
- Quiz: Myths and facts about colon cancer screening
- Think twice before spending money on these items
- Quiz: What problems do low-income seniors face?
- More health information you can use
Visit the AARP home page every day for great deals and for tips on keeping healthy and sharp
Tell Us WhatYou Think
Please leave your comment below.