Melanoma_Unmasked
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Melanoma: Unmasked
Kate Holupka
With the summer sun high in the sky and sun worshipers of all ages eager to catch some rays by the pool, it's easy to forget the health dangers of that radiant glow: skin cancer. According to the Charlie Guild Melanoma Foundation, Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the United States today. Cases are increasing at an epidemic rate of 3% per year, and even stars such as Cybill Shepard, Ronald Reagan, Joe Roth, Elizabeth Taylor, Eva Cassidy, John McCain, and Anderson Cooper have been diagnosed with the disease. Still, one million people in the U.S flock to tanning parlors every day.
A sun-kissed look may be a tempting reason to "fake bake", but there's nothing attractive about cancer. While the warmth on your skin heeds way to invincible feelings of immortality, youth actually increases susceptibility. For example, Melanoma took legendary football Quarterback Joe Roth’s life at age 21. It continues to be the primary cause of cancer deaths in woman ages 25-29, and is the most common cancer in men and women ages 20-29.
Prior to her diagnosis, Elizabeth Taylor probably didn’t know that youths get 50-80% of their lifetime sun exposure during childhood, or that most skin damage occurs before age 18. Ultraviolet radiation exposure during indoor tanning sessions is especially hazardous at tender ages, when in a superficial world ruled by glamorous celebrities, being tan tops the list with being thin.
Even the best judgment can become clouded in a sunny, shallow world based on appearances. That is why, to date, more than 20 states have pending legislation regarding the regulation of tanning bed usage. In March of 2009 Arkansas and Mississippi signed legislation to restrict access to tanning beds to minors under the age of 14, and according to Lauren Wright, Director of Dermanetwork.org, an online health education community, others have followed suit, enacting laws that require written prescriptions from Doctors if under 18.
(See full article at http://www.dermanetwork.org/news/news_details.asp?ID=550).
While it’s doubtful that Ronald Reagan or John McCain went tanning at a salon, their cases exemplify other common risk factors that make an individual prone to melanoma. Fair skin, weakened immune systems, and severe sunburns or exposure to ultra-violet rays (likely a result of McCain’s time in Vietnam) can all result in skin cancer.
Although there have been no significant advances in medical treatment or survival rates of melanoma in the last thirty years, if caught early it is entirely treatable with a survival rate of 100%. However, if left undetected, there is no known treatment or cure.
Everyone--even celebrities—are vulnerable to the damaging effects of the sun. It’s crucial to take small, life-saving measures. Doctors recommend limiting yourself to excessive time spent in the sun, covering your skin with clothing when outdoors, and wearing sun block with a minimal SPF of at least 15. Taking these precautions guarantees summer bliss for many years to come.
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Related links (information and pictures obtained from):
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2007/02/19/SPG9MO76HQ1.DTL
http://www.charlie.org/melanoma_facts.html
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Comments
AMAZING!
Excellent coverage of the numerous battles of skin cancer. Good tips at the end.
Good article Katie!
Great article Katie! You're a really talented writer...I found the article to be not only very professional, but also quite engaging and interesting to read.
I did notice a few small errors in pluralization, capitalization, and subject-verb agreement. I'm not sure if you're able to edit the article at this point, but if you are, I think it would give you an even better chance of winning. :) There are certainly no glaring errors, but having taken a course in professional editing and holding that as one of my career goals, I'm supposed to notice this stuff. :)
Good luck!
Great info!
Wonderful!!
Fantastic article! Something more people should read and you make it interesting. Great job.
Great article!
great article!!! keep it up!!
This is a great reminder for all of us, especially those of us in our twenties to really take precautions when it comes to the sun. This is one cancer that could, in come cases, be preventable. Kudos.
Awesome Article!!!!!
Good luck, love! I agree with Adrienne, always proof read and have someone else proof read your work, but holistically it's wonderful!!
Good luck, love! I agree with Adrienne, always proof read and have someone else proof read your work, but holistically it's wonderful!!
Great information and a well written article!
SWEEEEEEEEEEET.
wow. very informative.
Excellent and very timely for summer.
very informative! well written.
Makes you think about your summer activities ...
Wow- the number one cause of cancer deaths in women ages 25-29! Makes one stop and think... very informative article!
As I sit in a constant state of itching (due to my recent severe sunburn which is attempting to heal itself) ...and after reading this article, I see how truly silly and shortsighted I was to not put on sunscreen the other day when going out to the pool; hopeing like many, for that "natural sunkissed look". All this info is so true, and applies to the natural sun as well. Let's all start being smarter and less superficial!!
More than 30 years ago I read of a research by dermatologists on what they called 'cancer cubicles' (tanning salons). It is so sad that people would rather
have a sunkissed appearance than realize the consequences later in life.
It's a great article, Katie. People should heed the warning.
Katie, I'm impressed that you were able to give so much information in such a well written article.
Very Informative!
Good article Katie. I was just thinking today I was too pale and needed some sun, so glad I am wearing sun screen though.
Cool
Having had family members on my husband's side with melanoma, and many friends too, this is one cancer that is preventable, and treatable - if simple precautions are taken. You pay attention to your childrens' time under the sun and use precautions, but don't forget to use those same measures for yourself. Great reminder Katie. Thanks!
Good job, Katie. Concise, to the point, entertaining, and scary enough to wake folks up.
I think it is important for teeangers to read this and be aware of all the complications that can occur when using tanning salons. Great article!! Keep up the good work and Good Luck!
This is a very informative article and something every teen/young adult should heed the warnings. Keep it up!
Great article and a much needed reminder to those of us who spend their days in the sun!
Kaite -- good article. Someone I know from church just told me today he had melanoma and now is cancer free. Not that he was in a tanning bed -- but it does wake you up. Thanks for the article.
It's a shame but the older you get, the more you stay out of the sun because the worse your skin becomes. Good to get the word out to younger people.
This is a very important issue, one that most people (especially young people) don't think about. The array of celebrity examples of different ages and talents proves that no one is invincible and encourages caution in everyone.
Thanks for the well-written, informative article!
Well written!
Great Article Katie! You learn something new everyday :)
Great article! Vey informative and helpful
Katie - great article! I'm glad you're informing more people about the deadly effects of melanoma and how susceptible everyone is to this disease. I hope our generation starts to realise that healthy skin is sexy and the temporary "sun-kissed" skin that was made popular by Coco Chanel in the '20s is not worth a lifetime of poor health or an untimely death.
Good luck with the contest. Hope you win!!
Good to know...definitely going to be wearing sunblock more often.
Great job, Katie! :)
Katie,
Great artical and very informative !
To tell the truth, I've tried it a few times myself, but never in excess, before heading to the Caribbean, but never in excess. I think youngsters under age 18 , should have parents approval.
Good stuff, props for taking action and fighting cancer!
Way to go Katie. Amazing article!!
Great job, Katie! Always good to remind people of these things!
Great job Katie. I think it has a lot of good information and I also think people will get a lot from it. Keep up the good work!!!!!!
This is a great article! It's really well-written and definitely will make me think twice about going out in the sun without skin protection! Wonderful job P.S. THIS SHOULD WIN :)
Fantastic article! Very well-written and keeps everyone's attention. Great!
Another reminder to protect ourselves and stay out of the sun. I wish I could erase those tanning bed sessions from high school. So true!
The Sun giveth and the Sun taketh away...
Good piece!
great information!
I never think about this stuff, but maybe I should.
Very informative! Interesting to learn that people our age can have more than half of our sun exposure while we're children, crazy stuff!
Very informative article - great facts! You always hear about the same old skin cancer facts but I liked that you added a little extra flavor and spice to your article, information that not many people know about. Good luck on the contest!
This was very interesting and informative!
This should be published EVERYWHERE!! it's all so true and you present it in a quick, efficient and interesting way. your statistics and information were placed and "decorated" in just the right way. Awesome job!!!
strange how the sun gives us life but takes it away too...
I found this highly interesting! I know that some sun exposure is good for Vitamin D synthesis, however, with so many supplemented food items out there, people can't use that excuse to be fake baked (I seriously doubt that would have been their reasoning anyway). Anyway, I am glad that some states are limiting tanning beds to minors... there is no reason for them to be in the tanning bed anyway! Good article! Great topic!
Informative and an easy to read - enjoyed the article alot. I was not aware there were so many celebraties with this condition........great article!!
I had no clue about the tanning bed restrictions you mentioned. You did a great job on this article. It was easy to read and even more interesting to hear familiar names thrown in.
In these times when it seems most website sponsor links would have us believe that yellow teeth should be our greatest concern, your article informs about a topic of real and serious concern - Thank you!
yay for sunscreen!
Great Katie. I'm prode of you!
nice article thanks for all the hard work and honest info.
This is information that everyone needs to hear about! It is a very interesting article! Thank you for bringing awareness to this issue! Great job!
I have a ton of flreckles and i have always been worried about skin cancer. I tell everyone a tan is your bodies defense again the sun!
I have a ton of flreckles and i have always been worried about skin cancer. I tell everyone a tan is your bodies defense again the sun!
X says:
6 months ago
Good info.