Free skin cancer screening set for Saturday

Did you know that you can get sunburn even on a cloudy day?

Statistics show that 80 percent of the sun’s rays can penetrate through light clouds, mist or even foggy conditions, causing unprotected skin to burn.

Local healthcare experts would like residents to protect themselves while enjoying summer activities. To help bring awareness to local residents the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at Terrebonne General Medical Center is offering two free skin cancer screenings.

The first is this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Southland Mall, 5953 W. Park Ave., in Houma. The second will be July 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cannata’s Family Market, 6307 W. Park Ave., in Houma.

These screenings are for men and women age 18 years and older who do not have insurance and have not been previously screened for skin cancer by a physician in the last 12 months.

No appointments are required.

Renea Duffin, vice president of cancer programs at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center said skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers, with melanoma being the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), although it accounts for only about five percent of all skin cancer cases, it is the leading cause of all skin cancer-related deaths.

However, like the less aggressive basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, melanoma is almost always curable when detected in its early stages.

National statistics from the American Cancer Society estimate that more than one million Americans develop skin cancer every year, accounting for nearly half of all U.S. cancers.

“Nearly all are preventable,” Duffin said. “The sun’s ultraviolet rays are generally regarded as the main culprit. The most effective preventive method is sun avoidance.

“The most startling fact of all, perhaps, is that one severe sunburn during the first 15 years of life can ‘double’ your risk of skin cancer later on,” Duffin added.

Health care officials warn residents that they can get sunburn while in water because water reflects an additional five percent of the sun’s rays back on the body. Also, residents who work around concrete can get burned because the concrete reflects 10 to 12 percent of the sun’s rays.

Dark brown or black skin is not a guarantee against melanoma either, says the AAD.

Dark skinned people can develop melanoma on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, under nails or in the mouth, experts warn.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that tanning beds cannot protect your skin from cancer by preparing it for sun exposure. Overexposure to UV rays – outdoors or in a tanning salon booth – can also cause skin cancer, according to the CDC.

Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration cautions that some medications can increase sun-sensitivity including oral contraceptives, antibiotics and skin treatments like Retin-A and Renova.

Patients taking these medications should check with their physicians to see how the medication is affecting their skin.

Most skin professionals recommend sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher for adults and an SPF of 40 for children. Health care professionals advise patients to choose one that provides broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

Applying sunscreen at least one half hour before exposure allows penetration and better protection. Babies six months or younger should be kept out of the sun completely whenever possible.

“Regular use of a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher is key to skin cancer prevention, just as an annual full-body exam by a dermatologist is key to early detection,” Duffin said.