Summer Fun Shadowed by Deadly Skin Cancer

It's not surprising that May signifies both the official kickoff to summer and Skin Cancer Awareness month. It's a great reminder to protect your skin while enjoying the beautiful outdoors. Whether it's a day at the pool, a barbecue with friends or simply driving in the car, protecting your skin from the harmful effects of the sun is important not only during the summer, but all year long. According to www.skincancer.org, an estimated 2.8 million cases of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common form of skin cancer, were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2010. That figure continues to climb. Dr. Anna Garrett was diagnosed with basal cell cancer on a routine "get to know you" visit to a new dermatologist in the city she had just moved to. Anna says, "The doctor was examining my face with her magnifying glass and came across a small spot (that looked like others on my face) and asked, 'How long has that been there?' I answered I did not know." One biopsy later, Anna found out it was malignant. She was not new to skin cancer. Anna had a long family history of melanoma that included the loss of both her dad and uncle. Fortunately, Anna had Mohs surgery, and it was taken care of. Now, she's vigilant about visiting her dermatologist for ANYTHING that looks off! Liz Toombs says, "I had bad tanning practices and a lot of moles. At the urging of my mom and husband, I had them checked out." Liz was 25 when the physician assistant at the dermatologist's office found cancer in ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news