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Healthy You Archives |
Coping with Illness
Not Too Young for MelanomaProtect your children from this deadly type of skin cancer He’s very careful nowRoddy Devine had never spent much time in the sun, so was shocked to learn he had melanoma. Now, he wears a hat and sunblock while on duty as a security officer at Dorney Park.Devine’s story isn’t so unusual today. Children and teens rarely developed this deadly type of skin cancer in the past, and it’s still far more common in people over age 40. “Only 1-2 percent of melanoma patients are under 18,” says surgical oncologist Paul Mosca, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “But the rate is on the rise, and its impact on young patients can be tragic.” Why is melanoma on the rise? No one knows for sure, but theories include more sun exposure and increased use of tanning booths, says Mosca’s colleague, dermatologist Arthur Sosis, M.D. Here’s how to protect your children. Know their risk. Risk factors for melanoma include:
E=elevation/enlargement). See a dermatologist for suspicious growths including burning or itching moles and those in hard-to-see places. “They’re typically on the back or legs, but can be anywhere including under breasts and even on heels,” Sosis says. For example, 24-year-old Jamie Razar of Macungie recently discovered a melanoma on her scalp. Fortunately, the disease is highly curable if caught before it penetrates skin layers or spreads to lymph nodes, Mosca says. Reduce your children’s risk by avoiding peak sun (10 a.m.-4 p.m.), making sure they wear protective clothing, hats and sunglasses, and using sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) with UVA and UVB protection. This page last updated 4/1/08 10:24 AM
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 November December 2008 Eating Healthy
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Protecting Your Health
Coping with Illness
Aging Well
Keeping Up to Date
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