Skin cancer affects more than five million people in the United States each year. However, with early detection it has one of the highest survival rates of any cancer! Do you know how to spot skin cancer? Answer these questions to test your knowledge!
Q: What is the most common form of skin cancer?
A: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, with more than 3.6 million cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year. You can read more about Basal Cell Carninomas on our blog here.
Q: True or false: If you have a family history of melanoma, you are at greater risk for developing the disease.
A: Heredity plays a major role in melanoma. About one in every 10 patients diagnosed with the disease has a family member with a history of melanoma.
Q: True or false: Skin cancer is found only on areas of your body which are exposed to the sun?
A: False. Skin cancers may develop on unexposed areas of the body, including the soles of your feet, genitals and even on your mucous membranes.
Q: True or false: Not all of the sun’s rays cause skin cancer. That’s why you can get away with wearing less sunscreen on cloudy days.
A: False. The sun has two types of rays: UVA and UVB. Both types penetrate the atmosphere and play an important role in conditions such as premature skin aging, eye damage and skin cancers.
Q:What is SPF?
A: Sun Protection Factor – is a measure of a sunscreen’s ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. Here’s how it works: If it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer – about five hours. However, in reality, sunscreen wears away and loses strength after a while in the sun, so you need to reapply at least every couple of hours, and immediately after sweating or swimming.
Q: True or false: Using a tanning bed increases your risk of skin cancer
A: People who first use a tanning bed before age 35 increase their risk for melanoma by 75 percent.
Questions and answers taken from SkinCancer.Org. Test your knowledge even more by taking their quiz! The information presented in this blog is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Sources for the above information include The American Academy of Dermatology. If you have questions or concerns, please call our office or make an appointment with a medical professional. Savannah River Dermatology is located at 575 Furys Ferry Rd in Augusta, Ga. Our office can be reached at 706-691-7079.
