Skin Cancer Kills. You have to take better care of yourself. Don’t allow yourself to be a statistic! You can have healthy skin all your life.
How Likely Are You To Die Of Skin Cancer?
Melanoma is the most serious of skin cancers and it can be healed sometimes. Often, however, skin cancer is found after there has been significant spread.
After all, most melanoma is located deep enough in your skin that it is difficult to see it. You may need a doctor’s help to see the melanoma tumors down in your skin. But a self-exam can let you know if you have a visible spot on your skin that you question.
Now for how likely are you to die from skin cancer?
1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. No that is not bad odds unless you are the one who does develop cancer.
More than 2 people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour! The other fact about skin cancer is, you don’t have to get it! It is a lifestyle choice that you have been making for a long time.
SkinCancer.org shares this information:
- More than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day, here in the US! Out of these patients, we get our death rate of more than two people die of the disease every hour. This means that about 50 people die every day of skin cancer!
- More people are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined.
- Statics have held true that at least one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. Your chances are in relation to how much sun you have exposed your skin too.
- Actinic keratosis is the most common precancer; it affects more than 58 million Americans. This kind of predispition to cancer reoccurs when removed for some. This condition is caused by sun damaged skin cells that don’t heal properly.
Skin Cancer Is Dangerous
While the other forms of cancer are dangerous, they can often be cured by applying medication or surgical removal. All skin cancer needs medical attention to keep from destroying more of your skin than has already been taken.
Melanoma is the most dangerous. It can be deadly.
Ok, got that part. It is the most deadly of skin cancers. Now, that is frightening.
How Long Do You Live After Being Diagnosed With Melanoma?
Here, everyone is individual and some survive and thrive after a melanoma diagnosis. It is a dangerous disease, and you and your doctor will find the best treatment for you.
Let’s just go with some generalities here to make you understand that this is dangerous.
You do have an overall average survival rate for all patients for 5 years with melanoma of 92%. So even if you are diagnosed, you have a fairly high rate of cure and survival, unless you are in the 8% that don’t make it.
This means 92 of every 100 people diagnosed with melanoma will be alive in 5 years. Of course, it also means that 8 of every 100 people who are diagnosed with melanoma will not survive.
I point out the 8 percent because so many think that is a low rate, and looking at just numbers it is. However looking at human lives, it is a different story. Again, for a condition that does not have to be. Cover your body, and protect yourself from too much sun.
In the very early stages, your 5-year survival rate is 99%. This is why it is so important to see your doctor if you spot anything on your skin. At this point, there is almost a 100% survival rate! Again this is early!
However, once melanoma has spread to the lymph nodes the 5-year survival in the previous sentence drops to 63%. So early intervention and treatment is the secret.
Does Melanoma Lead To Other Cancers?
If you have or have had melanoma, you can still get other cancers according to skincancer.org. You can get other cancers.
Actually, melanoma survivors are at higher risk for getting some other types of cancer: They may be suspectable to another skin cancer, such as basic basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.
A former melanoma patient can even have another different kind of melanoma, not just the first one coming back.
The condition that led to the first round of skin cancer is usually too much sun. That condition is still there, and your skin still has damage.
All the alert conditions as a result of too much sun are still present, even though your first presenting skin cancer is no longer there Now you are aware of how high your risks are.
Cover your skin from too much sun. Now is the time for you to get yourself some UVF clothing. Add some sun blocking shirts and pants to your wardrobe. Don’t forget a sun block hat and sunglasses.
The basic items of your sun blocking closet include:
Your sunhat should be a tightly woven hat with at least a 3-inch brim to protect you from the sun. Fabric or straw, just make sure the sun doesn’t shine through.
The 2nd important part of your sun blocking closet is your sunglasses. Wear them.
The 3rd item for sun protection is your sun blocking shirt. A tightly woven fabric that fits loosely, with long sleeves and a color to pull up around your neck when needed. The loose fit allows airflow under your shirt for cooling or drying your body.
Then you need long pants as well to protect your legs from too much sun.
Shoes and sox are important, not sandals or flip-flops. They will allow too much sun to your feet.
These are the basics to which you should add sunscreen on the parts of your body not covered with clothing.
Sami’s Take On Skin Cancer Kills
Yes, skin cancer can kill. We do have to be responsible. Taking better care of your skin will keep you healthy and strong. It is true that often our bodies become weaker with other problems when skin cancer shows up.
This is a blind attack. You were off-kelter with the other condition when you realized that you had problems. There are so many ways to cause our body’s to be venerable. We don’t eat healthily or allow ourselves to weigh too much. Maybe not enough exercise.
Often you don’t rest as you should. Or don’t wear sun blocking clothing or use sunscreen. So many ways we attack our bodies.
ABC Guide For Moles or Warts On Your Skin
I thought that the ABC list would be easier for me to remember Maybe it will help you with recognizing when a part of your body needs help.
A is for Asymmetry. The two halve are not exactly alike. There will be a difference in size, shape or thickness, or color.
B is for Border or the outside lines of the area on your skin that is different. The one that made you look again to check it out. This border can be uneven and kind of jagged.
C is for Color. Uneven color. It can be dark or tan or pink or even white, or grey. Some are red, pink, and even a blueish color.
D is for Diameter. Usually, these moles or circles on your skin are kind of like a wobbly circle but can be of any shape.
E is for Evolving or changing. Changing in size, color, shape, or elevation.
Using Information Tha Is Available
As we learn how to help ourselves take better care of our skin, even with sun blocking clothing and sunscreens, we must pay attention.
I have developed a strong resistance to paying attention to how I can protect my skin. There is little consideration to how I can help myself. How about you?
We have good information and great suggestions to help us take care of our skin. What do we do? Do you turn the page and move on without considering how we might use this information? Or do you do a bit of reflecting and considering how you might be able to use this information to make things better for you?
Here I will admit to a mindset that dates me quick! I was better about giving more consideration to information from a printed page. I paid more attention to what I had read.
For me for a long time, I just read online for fun, not real information. It took me a while to consider the online information with the same consideration as printed on a page.
I began to use the computer more, then our phones got smarter and smarter. Those of you who have never really been hooked on newspapers and magazines as I have didn’t have to change. You have been able to benefit from online information all along.
I do ask, have you improved your skin’s protection from the sun? Don’t just read and ignore. Pay attention and help your skin take care of you. Awareness is the start of change. As you become aware of the need for change you can make small moves to help prevent skin damage.
Skin Cancer Kills Basics
The kind of damage that causes skin cancer comes from repeated exposure. Another basic I would like to remind you of is the dangerous hours of the day to expose your skin to the sun’s rays. They are the most damaging between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM.
With sunscreen and sun blocking clothing you can make your outdoor time more fun. Even during the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM. You will just need to be aware of safe sunscreen applications and sun blocking clothing. These two ideas can form the basics for your skin protection and preventing sunburn.
Yes, there have been changes in safe hours in the sun because of the warming of the climate. The disappearing ozone layer of protection is making much more difference than I realized. How quickly we can sunburn is a surprise to me. So this has been an adjustment for me.
Have you paid attention to the guidelines for shopping for good sun blocking clothing? The thicker fabrics block the sun better.
Anything between you and the direct sunlight is beneficial for protecting your skin. Helping prevent sunburn. A long-sleeved shirt, a wide-brimmed hat, umbrellas, shade, sunglasses.
Your sunblock is more effective with tightly woven fabric and no holes where the fibers cross each other in the weaving process. Hold the fabric between you and the sun. Do you see tiny pinprick-sized holes? The sun can and will penetrate these holes and can cause sunburn. A tighter woven fabric is better.