Beware of the Sun

As a kid I remember everyone out side tanning. The sun was not feared it was something that made the bronzed skin that everyone wanted. Some ladies I know were always in the sun and their bronze was darker than many others. Others simply worked outside and worked hard and in return received what I have called a farmers tan. Their skin was sun kissed as they labored the ground. Back in the day sun was no problem,, then something terrible happened as a result of getting too much sun.  

Many family members that worked the land and earned those beautiful glows and tanned skin through the years have been diagnosed with skin cancer. The sun that was so desired led to cancerous growths. When the growths were cut off some were diagnosed as cancerous. June is the month nominated to take a look at "Cancer from the Sun". While June is hot and we spend more time in the summer every month and every day is when we should be aware of the dangers from sun. 

Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of all cancers in the U.S. Melanoma causes 75% of all skin cancer deaths. If you notice a growth on your skin that was not there or has changed you do not want to ignore this. If skin cancer is left untreated it is difficult to manage and easily spreads to other organs. If you happen to have a growth watch for these signs:

Look for the alphabet:

A – Asymmetry. Does the shape of one side differ from the other?

B – Border. Are the edges ragged or blurred?

C – Color. Are there uneven shades of brown, black, tan, red, white or blue?

D – Diameter. Is there a significant change in size (greater than 6mm)?

The Sun and the UV rays are the major cause of skin cancer. You should protect yourself and those that you love from the sun:

Make sure when outside to apply sunscreen with a SPF number of 15 or higher. 

Look for cosmetics and skin care products that have UV protection

Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses and contact lenses with UV protection

The sun is the most dangerous between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm beware of the sun during those times Wear sunscreen, hats and protective clothing during these hours