Tip Of The Week 7th December 2009
Skin Smart
As the summer months continue to heat up many of us will take the opportunity to take our lifestyle medicine lifestyle outdoors. However with summer already here we need to protect our skin from future skin cancers.
The information below sourced from the Cancer Council, outlines the four main types of skin cancers. Save your skin before its too late!
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Lifestyle ProgramsMelanoma: A Melanoma is a dangerous skin cancer that can be fatal if not detected early. They can occur anywhere on the body and can appear as a new spot, an existing spot or from a freckle or mole. They usually have an irregular or smudgy outline; may be blotchy and more than one colour, ranging from brown, black, blue, red or grey.
Nodular Melanoma: This is a highly dangerous form of melanoma that grows quickly and can be life threatening if not detected and removed early. It can appear as a small, round lump on the skin and can be black, brown, pink or red, looking very similar to a blood blister. It is generally firm to touch and may crust and bleed.
Basal Cell Carcinoma: This is the most common and least dangerous of all the skin cancers. They tend to be slow growing and occur on the head, neck or upper body. It appears as a lump or scaling area, red or paley in colour. It can become ulcerated and like a sore that won't heal.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: This skin cancer is not as dangerous as a melanoma but can spread to other parts of the body if not detected early. It occurs on areas most exposed to the sun and appears as a thickened, red, scaly spot which may bleed or ulcerate overtime.
The cancer council recommends 6 easy steps to protect your skin:
Slip on a closely woven long sleeve shirt
Slop on SPF 30+ sunscreen
Slap on a broard brim hat
Wear sunglasses that meet Australian standards
Seek shade whenever possible
Stay in shaded areas or indoors when UVR levels are highest from 10am to 2pm (11am to 3pm daylight savings).
Follow these few simple guidelines and have a stress free summer holiday!
To find out more about the origins of cancers check out "The story of cancer: it starts with your cells" to find out how it all starts.
Australian Lifestyle Medicine Conference
If you are a member of the Australian Lifestyle Medicine Assiociation (ALMA), work in the area of allied health or primary care or just interested to know more about this unqiue area from the leaders in Lifestyle Medicine check out ALMA's National Lifestyle Medicine Conference set for March 2010. Early bird registration closes 15th December.
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