To recognize Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Roper St. Francis Healthcare cancer surgeons and oncologists call attention to the importance of routine cancer screening.
Surgical Oncologist Dr. Daniel Kirchoff kicks off Skin Cancer Awareness Month by advising that it’s never too early to begin skin cancer screenings. He talks about who should get screened and when, early detection signs and common risk factors.
“Generally, when someone has had significant sun exposure as a child, they should start getting screened as early as right after high school,” Dr. Kirchoff says. “And then that becomes more important the older you get.”
He also advised anyone who has family members who have had skin cancer as well as those with fair skin and moles to be evaluated. “It’s very important you see a dermatologist at least for an initial baseline screening for skin surveillance,” Dr. Kirchoff says.
In addition to yearly screenings, there are other precautions one can take to prevent skin cancer.
Wearing sunscreen during the sweltering summer months is a given, but the sun’s rays can be just as damaging in the winter.
The CDC recommends the following sun safety measures:
- Stay in the shade.
- Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.
- Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck.
- Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays.
- Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
Don’t wait—take charge of your health today. Schedule a skin cancer screening, know the warning signs, and talk to your primary care doctor about your risk factors. Early detection could save your life.