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14 | January 11, 2018 | 22nd century media <strong>Healthy</strong> <strong>Living</strong><br />
22ndCenturyMedia.com<br />
Dermatology Associates offer advice to help prevent skin cancer<br />
While many people believe<br />
skin cancer is just a<br />
nuisance and easily treated,<br />
the truth is someone in<br />
this country dies because<br />
of melanoma every 54<br />
minutes.<br />
More than 4 million<br />
people are diagnosed and<br />
treated for basal cell carcinoma<br />
skin cancer in the<br />
United States every year.<br />
BCC patients have nearly<br />
a 95 percent recurrencefree<br />
cure rate, when cancer<br />
is diagnosed and treated<br />
promptly.<br />
Melanoma is a different<br />
story. As with any cancer,<br />
early intervention is vital.<br />
When melanoma is treated<br />
in very early stages, the<br />
five-year survival rate is 98<br />
percent. For those whose<br />
melanoma has spread to<br />
lymph nodes, that rate<br />
drops to 62 percent. Latestage<br />
treatment, when<br />
melanoma has spread<br />
throughout the body, has<br />
an expected survival rate<br />
of only 18 percent. The<br />
vast majority of skin cancer<br />
deaths are caused by<br />
melanoma.<br />
Sun exposure and the<br />
use of tanning beds and<br />
lights cause up to 90 percent<br />
of all skin cancers.<br />
Getting burned is even<br />
worse. People who have<br />
had more than five sunburns<br />
in their lifetime are<br />
at double the risk of developing<br />
melanoma.<br />
The first line of defense<br />
against skin cancer is protection.<br />
Year-round, parents<br />
should protect children<br />
by using a child-safe<br />
sunscreen with an SPF of<br />
30 or higher. They should<br />
apply frequently during<br />
sun exposure and after<br />
water play, covering all<br />
exposed skin including<br />
scalps.<br />
Parents also should<br />
stand firm in protecting<br />
their teens’ health by<br />
prohibiting tanning. No<br />
matter what age, people<br />
can reduce their risk of<br />
skin cancer by using SPF<br />
30+ sunscreen each time<br />
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Palos Heights • Oak Lawn • Mokena • New Lenox • Joliet<br />
(708) 361-0600 or (815) 727-3030<br />
www.parkviewortho.com<br />
they go into the sun, yearround.<br />
Regular self-examinations<br />
help identify possible<br />
skin cancer. In a frontfacing<br />
mirror and a hand<br />
mirror, people can carefully<br />
examine their entire<br />
bodies. They should look<br />
for skin growths, moles or<br />
marks that have changed<br />
in size, shape, color or texture;<br />
spots that itch, crust<br />
or bleed; and new marks<br />
or moles.<br />
Even more important<br />
is scheduling a skin and<br />
mole check with a dermatologist<br />
when one has<br />
a concern. This screening<br />
takes 10-20 minutes. The<br />
dermatologist will examine<br />
the patient from head<br />
to toe and check areas of<br />
concerns found in selfexaminations.<br />
Early detection means a<br />
wider range of highly effective<br />
treatment options.<br />
Depending upon the type<br />
and stage of cancer, a patient<br />
and the dermatologist<br />
may consider Mohs surgery,<br />
with a 98-99 percent<br />
cure rate, Superficial radiotherapy,<br />
with a 95 percent<br />
cure rate or another<br />
therapy. The dermatologist<br />
should be board-certified<br />
and fellowship-trained.<br />
Roughly 20 percent of<br />
Americans will develop<br />
skin cancer. People can<br />
protect themselves and<br />
their families by using<br />
sunscreen, performing<br />
self-exams regularly, and<br />
getting a skin check. Those<br />
diagnosed with skin cancer<br />
cam investigate their options<br />
thoroughly to determine<br />
the most successful<br />
course of treatment with a<br />
dermatologist.<br />
Dermatology Associates<br />
is recognized for<br />
exceptional skin cancer<br />
treatment with fellowshiptrained<br />
Mohs surgeons;<br />
treatment of skin conditions,<br />
including acne,<br />
psoriasis and eczema; and<br />
cosmetic services, including<br />
eyelid rejuvenation,<br />
laser skin resurfacing and<br />
chemical peels.<br />
Submitted by Dermatology<br />
Associates, 18425 W. Creek<br />
Drive, Suite F, in Tinley Park,<br />
and 13401 S. Ridgeland Ave.<br />
in Palos Heights. For more<br />
information, visit www.my<br />
dermdocs.com, or call (708)<br />
444-8300.<br />
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