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Each year, about a million people in the U.S. learn that they have skin cancer. Research has led to better methods of diagnosing and treating this disease. It is encouraging to know that skin cancer is now almost 100 percent curable if found early and treated promptly. What are the two most common types of skin cancer? The two most common kinds of skin cancer are: Basal cell carcinoma, which accounts for more than 90% of all skin cancers in the U.S. Squamous cell carcinoma rarely spreads, but it does so more often then basal cell. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. According to current estimates, 40% to 50% of Americans who live to age 65 will have skin cancer at least once. Am I at risk for skin cancer? Although anyone can get skin cancer, the risk is greatest for people who have: - Fair skin
- Freckle easily
- Often those with red or blonde hair and blue or light colored eyes
How can I protect my skin? Skin cancer is related to lifetime exposure to UV radiation. Most skin cancers appear after age 50, but the sun’s damaging effects begins at an early age. Protection should start in childhood to prevent skin cancer later in life. - Wear protective clothing such as sun hats and long sleeves
- Wear sunscreens with SPF of 15 or higher and blocks both UVA and UVB radiation. Those rated 15 to 30 block most of the sun’s harmful rays
- Do a skin self-exam every month to identify suspicious growths
- Be careful when you are on sand, snow, or water, because these surfaces can reflect 85% of the sun’s rays
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