SKIN+CANCER

=Skin Cancer by Lizzy Clippard=

I Causes:
- UV rays damage DNA. - Accumulated skin exposure - Brief, intense skin exposure - Inherited traits such as melanoma or fair skin prone to harsh burns.

II Symptoms and Signs:
- Even the slightest sun tan is an indication that UV rays have damaged the DNA in your skin to some effect. - One blistering sunburn can greatly increase your chances of skin cancer. - Discolored or assymetrical moles or "sun spots" are a good indication that an area of skin has severely damaged DNA. - These discolorations can be benign (not harmful) or malignant (cancerous and harmful) - If a mole is not uniform then it should be checked immediately.

III Prevention:
- Skin cancer is completely avoidable if skin is carefully taken care of. - Exposure to UV rays can be blocked by a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher. - UV rays are most intense from the hours of 10 AM- 4 PM. - Certain areas of the skin are more sensitive to skin damage than others such as the face, eyes, chest, and shoulders. - To minimize exposure wear clothing, hats, sunglasses, and most importantly sunscreen. - Obviously, the best prevention of cancer is early detection.

IV Treatment:
- Skin cancer can be easily treated if it is surgically removed in its early stages. - If DNA is severely damaged, skin cancer can morph into melanoma, a more serious metastasis stage of skin cancer. - Melanoma is fatal, and requires most of it's victims to receive radiation and or chemotherapy. - To minimize the effects of sun burns that could possibly cause skin cancer: - Do not pop or drain any blisters that may form - Apply Aloe Vera and or hydro cortisone creams to the area of damage.

V Skin Cancer Statistics:
- 45,625 people were diagnosed with melanomas of the skin in 2003. - 7,818 people died from melanomas of the skin in 2003. - Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.

VI Sources:
- http://www.cdc.gov/cancer