WHILE THE SUMMER sunshine feels good on bare skin, be careful not to go unprotected outdoors for too long. At least 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. It now accounts for 1 in every 3 cancers diagnosed worldwide, and more people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than are diagnosed with all other cancers combined.
But how can that be, when we are seeing more safe-sun campaigns and public education around skin cancer? It's mainly due to better detection and one more big health improvement: "The longer you live, the higher your chances are of eventually developing a skin cancer," says Deborah S. Sarnoff, a New York City dermatologist and president of the Skin Cancer Foundation. Fortunately, when caught early, skin cancer is highly treatable.
Skin cancer is grouped into two types: malignant melanoma and nonmelanoma. The nonmelanoma type, which includes basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), is the most common. The main risk factor for both types is cumulative exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, so as we age, skin cancer can appear-typically on the areas that are most often exposed to the sun.
"That includes the face, ears, scalp and neck," says Clare Tait, a dermatologist based in Perth, Australia, the country with the world's highest rate of melanoma, according to World Cancer Research Fund International.
Fair-skinned people with blue eyes and blond hair, and those who have a family history of melanoma or already have a lot of moles, are at higher risk. But people with darker skin can develop skin cancer too.
Esta historia es de la edición July - August 2023 de Reader's Digest US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July - August 2023 de Reader's Digest US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Election Day Memories - Stories about voting by the people, for the people
A Convincing Argument When my boyfriend and I were finally old enough to vote in our first presidential election, we spent months debating with one another about our chosen candidates. We were quite persuasive, as we discovered when we got home from the polls and learned that we'd both voted for the other's initial choice.―SHERRY FOX Appleton, WI
A New Way to Monitor Blood Sugar
Who can benefit from this wearable technology
A Flag for Dad
An old sailor made a last wish. His son was determined to see that it came true.
Sisterhood to Last a Lifetime
These college pals teach a master class in how to maintain a friendship for 50-plus years
...TO DIE ON A HOCKEY RINK
ONE MINUTE I WAS PLAYING IN MY BEER LEAGUE, THE NEXT I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL
Yes, There's a Museum for That!
These collections are wacky, wonderful and worth a visit
Town Meeting Is Called!
Once a year, the people of Elmore, Vermont, gather to practice a cherished right: democracy
Just Tight
Broken, battered and trapped in a ravine for days, a desperate driver wonders, \"Will anyone find me?\"
WHY OUR BODIES DON'T DIG DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
Twice a year, when we spring ahead and fall back, we're more prone to sleepiness, depression and accidents
MONEYSAVING DO'S AND DON'TS
The run-up to the holidays doesn't have to bah-humbug your budget. A shopping expert shares strategies for saving big now and all year round.
