Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/651729
WHAT IS HOT THIS SPRING? AVOIDING SKIN CANCER FORGET SHOPPING FOR CHIC SWIMSUITS AND SANDALS. AS WARMER WEATHER ARRIVES AND YOU BEGIN PLANNING TO SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS, MAKE SKIN PROTECTION YOUR TOP PRIORITY. IT CAN BE tempting to view skin cancer less seriously than other forms of cancer, but make no mistake—skin cancer can be dangerous. Each year, clinicians diagnose more new cases of skin cancer than cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon combined, according to cancer incidence studies. The American Cancer Society estimates melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, will claim 10,130 lives in 2016. "The skin is the body's largest organ," says Georgia J. Smith, RN, OCN, Executive Director, Cancer Care Services, HSHS Western Region. "It has more square inches that can be affected by cancer than any other part of the body, as well as greater potential for cancer to spread to other organs than from anywhere else. All skin, even that of people of color, has the potential to burn." TAKE CONTROL OF SUN SAFETY Use these tips to keep your skin burn-free: ✳ Cover yourself in protection. Apply about two tablespoons of broad-spectrum, sun protection factor 30 or higher sunscreen to exposed skin a half hour before heading outdoors. Reapply every two hours. ✳ Dress for less (sun exposure). Long-sleeve shirts (preferably dark and densely woven), long pants, a broad- brimmed hat, and ultraviolet (UV)-blocking sunglasses should be essential parts of your wardrobe. ✳ Get to know your skin. Once a month, before or after your shower, search every inch of your body for moles that seem to be changing in shape, texture, color, or size. These changes could be signs of skin cancer. ✳ Take a sun siesta. Pack in outdoor fun before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. Stay inside or seek outdoor shade between these hours, when the sun's UV rays are most intense. ✳ Watch out for sneaky sunlight. Sunburn can happen while gardening, eating outdoors, or jogging as easily as it can during a day at the lake or pool. Parents, remember that skin protection starts with you. "Skin cancers can develop as the result of continued sun exposure," Smith says. "It's essential to protect young children and teach them the importance of sun safety, so they protect their skin as they get older." Grab Your Swimsuit and Sunscreen Join HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph's Hospitals on Friday, June 24, for our annual Summer Safety Pool Day. Our community health educators will be at the Bernard F. Willi Outdoor Pool in Chippewa Falls from 1 to 2 p.m. and the Fairfax Pool in Eau Claire from 3 to 4 p.m. Swimmers and their families will receive free safety materials and education about using sunscreen, wearing sunglasses, staying hydrated, and supervising children around water. See you at the pool! Need a primary care physician or dermatologist who can speak with you about a suspicious mole? Visit sacredhearteauclaire.org and click "Find a Provider," or visit stjoeschipfalls.com/our_ physicians. 1 5 S A C R E D H E A R T E A U C L A I R E . O R G