STATE COLLEGE -- As the weather gets warmer and beach season approaches, as well as increased outdoor activities, doctors say it’s important to think about your skin.
According to experts, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world, and melanoma is the most dangerous.
“In the United States, about 9,000 people will die from melanoma this year,” said Dr. Lorraine Rosamilia, a dermatologist at Geisinger Medical Group.
But, melanoma is a cancer that can often be prevented by avoiding serious skin burns, too much time in the sun, and extended exposure to ultraviolet light in other forms, such as tanning beds.
“Preventatively [you should use] sun screen, sun protection in the form of protective clothing,” said Rosamilia.
The good news is, if melanoma is caught before it spreads, it has a 5-year survival rate of 98 percent.
Rosamilia advised people should check themselves regularly for any new moles or changes in moles they already have.
“Even if a mole is completely symmetric and only one color but it seems to double in size in the period of a month -- that would be important,” said Rosamilia. “If it bled, if it seems symptomatic in some way, if it’s bothering you or really, if a patient just has a gut feeling about a mole – it’s important.”
The more melanoma spreads, the deadlier it can become.
“If you have melanoma that’s spread to regional lymph nodes, meaning lymph nodes close by to where the original spot is, then the 5-year survival is close to about 62 percent. And, if it involves organs or other lymph nodes further away from where that original spot was, then it’s more like 18 percent,” said Rosamilia.
Rosamilia advised that people should use a sunscreen that is at least SPF 15 or higher and advertises broad spectrum protection that blocks both UV-B and UV-A light.
Rosamilia said people should also replenish and replace their sunscreen supplies often, as sunscreens can lose potency and effectiveness over time.
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