Men Have Increased Risk of Melanoma

By NOT taking a few simple precautions when it comes to their skin, thousands of American men are risking their lives. The American Cancer Society estimates that 51,400 new cases of melanoma, the deadly form of skin cancer, will be diagnosed in 2001—29,000 among men and 22,400 among women. However, 5,000 men will die of it as compared to 2,800 women.

It seems the death rate among men is higher is because they don´t worry about certain things when they should. For instance, if a woman finds something on her skin, such as a mole or lesion, she is more likely to get it checked out by a physician than a man would be.

Another reason for the increased melanoma rates in men is sun exposure. Most sun damage occurs before the age of 18. When people who are middle-aged now were 18, there was not nearly as much information available about skin cancer and its effects.

Here are some recommendations for a sun-safe summer:

• Always use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
• When out in the sun, apply the sunscreen every two hours.
• Cover up! Wear shirts, hats and sunglasses for sun protection.

Remember that although it may look good now, there is no safe way to tan.

Abnormalities include lesions that are different colors or have become darker over time, those larger than a pencil eraser and those with irregular borders. If you notice anything "new", or if a mole or freckle you´ve had for a while seems to be changing, see your physician immediately for prompt treatment.

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