Most prevalent of all cancers can be prevented
Mary Bird Perkins’ C.A.R.E. Network offers free screenings
Photo available for download. Captions available at end of release.
(Baton Rouge) - Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers. It is estimated that more than one million Americans develop skin cancer every year, accounting for nearly half of all U.S. cancers, according to national statistics from the American Cancer Society. “Nearly all are preventable,” said Renea Austin-Duffin, executive director, Mary Bird Perkins’ C.A.R.E. Network. “The sun’s ultraviolet rays are generally regarded as the main culprit. The most effective preventive method is sun avoidance.”
Did you know you can get sunburn even on a cloudy day? Eighty percent of the sun’s rays can penetrate light clouds, mist and fog. You can also burn while you’re in the water as water reflects an additional 5% of the sun’s rays back on you. And if you work around concrete, you should know that it reflects 10-12% of the sun’s rays. “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,” said Austin-Duffin.
Most skin professionals recommend sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher for adults and an SPF of 40 for children. Choose one that provides broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen at least one half hour before exposure to allow penetration and better protection. Keep babies six months or younger out of the sun completely whenever possible.
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 -- causes skin cancer. Additionally, cautions the Food and Drug Administration, some kinds of medication increase sun-sensitivity such as oral contraceptives, antibiotics and skin treatments like Retin-A and Renova. You are advised to check with your doctor.
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), although it accounts for only about 5% 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. Dark brown or black skin is not a guarantee against melanoma, says AAD. Dark skinned people can develop melanoma on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, under nails, or in the mouth.
Besides using a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, an annual full-body exam by a dermatologist is key to prevention.
The following is a list of free skin cancer screenings being offered by Mary Bird Perkins’ C.A.R.E. Network in May. These screenings are for men and women 40 and older who do not have insurance and have not been screened for skin cancer by a physician in the last 12 months.
Thursday, May 10
St. Elizabeth Hospital
1023 W. Highway 30
Gonzales, LA
6 - 7:30 pm
Co-sponsored by St. Elizabeth Hospital
Friday, May 11
Cortana Wal-Mart
9350 Cortana Place
Baton Rouge, LA
10 am – 2 pm
Saturday, May 12
O'Neal Lane Wal-Mart
2171 O'Neal Lane
Baton Rouge, LA
9 am - 2 pm
Co-sponsored by Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
Wednesday, May 16
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
4950 Essen Lane
Baton Rouge, LA
6 - 7:30 pm
Co-sponsored by Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
*Reservations required
*Please call 225.215.1234
Monday, May 21
O’Neal Lane Wal-Mart
2171 O’Neal Lane
Baton Rouge, LA
10 am – 2pm
Wednesday, May 23
Innis Community Health Center
6450 LA Highway 1
Innis, LA
10 am – 2 pm
Thursday, May 24
Denham Springs Senior Center
949 Government Drive
Denham Springs, LA
9 am -12 noon
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About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center:
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has been fighting cancer for over 35 years. It is the only independent, nonprofit cancer treatment, education and research facility in Louisiana providing state of the art radiation therapy to all community residents regardless of ability to pay. Mary Bird Perkins has integrated cancer programs with Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center in Baton Rouge and St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington. These programs are accredited by the American College of Surgeons –
the gold standard for community-based cancer care. The Center also enjoys a long-standing relationship with North Oaks Hospital in Hammond.
About the C.A.R.E. Network:
The mission of the C.A.R.E. Network (Cancer Support Services, Awareness and Education, Research and Early Detection) is to lessen the burden of cancer in the community. Established in 2002, it is funded by gifts from the community and provides hundreds of programs and services, including free cancer screenings, to thousands of people every year. The research and academic medical physics partnership with MBP and Louisiana State University is also funded in part by the C.A.R.E. Network. The Center has locations in Baton Rouge, Covington and Hammond.