Skin Cancer

This Friday, the start of the Memorial Day weekend, is also "Don't Fry Day," a time for skin-safety experts to remind Americans about the hazards of overexposure to sunlight. Melanoma, the potentially deadly form of skin cancer, is the most common cancer among young adults in their late 20s, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, which joined forces to provide life-saving tips on sun safety. The main cause of skin cancer: overexposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
"Many people still do not realize that unprotected sun exposure can lead to skin cancer and other health problems," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, in an agency news release. "Simple steps, such as using sunscreen, putting on sunglasses or wearing a hat, can protect us and our families, while still enjoying the great outdoors."
Skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the United States, affects more than 2 million Americans each year -- more than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined, the EPA said. Every hour, one American dies from skin cancer, the agency noted.
Although UV rays are dangerous year-round, the risks are greatest in the summer months when people spend more time outside, McCarthy said.
To limit exposure to harmful UV rays, experts suggest you:

• Cover up. One of the most effective ways to reduce exposure to the sun's harmful rays is to wear a shirt, hat, sunglasses and SPF 15+ sunscreen.
• Find a shady spot. It's best to stay out of direct sunlight during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Be aware of the UV index. Before engaging in outdoor activities, check the UV index to identify the most risky times for overexposure to the sun.
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• Children who are successfully treated for cancer are at greater risk of developing mild to severe gastrointestinal problems down the road, a new study finds.
• Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco analyzed the self-reported gastrointestinal (GI) problems of 14,358 patients who survived at least five years following treatment for cancers such as lymphoma, leukemia, brain tumors or bone tumors.
  More than 40 percent experienced some type of GI problem -- including ulcers, esophageal disease, indigestion, polyps, chronic diarrhea, colitis, gallstones and jaundice -- within two decades of their treatment, the investigators found.
  Moreover, people diagnosed with cancer at an older age and who had to undergo more rigorous therapy (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery) were more likely to experience long-term GI issues, according to the study in the May issue of Gastroenterology.
  About one in 500 young adults in the United States is a survivor of childhood cancer, the study authors noted in a UCSF news release.
  "While physicians continue to learn about the long-term consequences of pediatric cancer and its therapy, it is essential that we provide comprehensive follow-up care that appropriately addresses the complications cancer survivors may experience," lead study author Dr. Robert Goldsby, pediatric cancer specialist at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital and director of the UCSF Survivors of Childhood Cancer Program, said in the news release.
  "These are serious issues that can have a real impact on a person's quality of life," Goldsby added.

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