Air Force News :: Health & Fitness

Burnt to death
An average of eight people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day in NSW alone. Kay Coppa finds out who’s at risk and when to see a doctor.

Anyone can develop skin cancer, but if you’re over 55, you are in a group that is most at risk. Factors such as your skin type, the colour of your eyes, the number of times you’ve been sunburnt and any history of previous skin cancers all play a part. The good news is that 95 per cent of melanomas are treatable if caught early.

Did you know?

Five or more sunburns in your lifetime can double your risk of skin cancer.

Melanomas can occur on parts of the body that are difficult to see, even those that haven’t been exposed to the sun.

A melanoma can become life threatening in as little as six weeks.

Every day, two people aged 55 and over die from melanoma in Australia.

Melanoma deaths are higher in older men than older women.

More than 95 per cent of melanomas are treatable if caught early.

How often do you check?
You should check your skin regularly – at least every three months.

Keep a record of the dates you check your skin and make notes about anything you’re keeping an eye on. You should get your skin seen by a general practitioner or dermatologist once a year.

Any spot that appears on the lips or ears should be seen by a GP immediately. If you have been diagnosed with a skin cancer, ask your GP or dermatologist about how often you should be checking.

Who should check?
The risk of developing skin cancer increases with age. Death from melanoma is highest in people aged over 55. But anyone aged 18 and over would benefit from getting to know their own skin.

Who is at risk?
Anyone who spent their childhood in Australia, or spends time in the sun, is at risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers. Some people have a higher level of risk than others.

You should be extra careful about checking your skin if you have any of the following:

a large number of moles;

suffered sunburn in the past;

fair skin that burns easily, freckles and does not tan;

blue or green eyes and/or fair or red hair;

been diagnosed with skin cancer in the past; and

a family history of melanoma.

What to look for
The more you examine your own skin, the more you will learn what’s normal for you and what may have changed since you last looked.

How to check your skin
Everyone can check their own skin, but it helps to have someone help you with those difficult-to-see places. With a bit of practice, most people can check their whole body in 15 minutes. Why not check your skin when you are getting dressed or getting out of the shower?

When you examine your skin, you’ll need a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror. You will need to undress completely. The room you use will need to be well lit.

There is no specific skin examination method. The following steps are suggested by the Australasian College of Dermatologists.

Check your face, head and neck
Check the whole face, including around the nose, lips and ears. The scalp can be difficult to examine. Make sure you part your hair.

Try using a hand-held blow dryer or a comb to lift the hair from the scalp or ask your partner or a friend to help. Turn your back to the full-length mirror and use your hand-held mirror to check the back of your neck and ears.

Check your torso
Check front, back and sides. Raise your arms and look at your right and left side.

Check your arms and hands
Hold your hands with the palms face up. Look at your fingers and spaces between the fingers. Turn your hands over and examine the backs of your hands, fingers, spaces between the fingers and fingernails.

Face the mirror and look at your forearms and upper arms. Bend your elbows to look at the undersides.

Check your legs and buttocks
With your back towards the full-length mirror, look at your buttocks and the backs of your thighs and lower legs. Turn and face the mirror and check the front of your thighs and lower legs.

Sit down and cross one leg over the other. Examine the top of your foot, the toes, toenails and spaces between the toes. Then use the hand-held mirror to look at the sole or bottom of your foot. Repeat the step with your other foot.

If you spot something
If you see anything on your skin that has changed in size, shape or colour, that itches or you do not think was there before, there are several things you can do.

See your GP or medical officer: Your GP knows your full history, can examine your skin and advise you about appropriate care.

See a dermatologist: If you would like a second opinion, ask your GP to refer you to a specialist, such as a dermatologist. Your GP may suggest you see a specialist anyway.

Visit a skin cancer clinic: There are many skin cancer clinics available, offering a variety of services and fee arrangements. Skin cancer clinics are usually operated by GPs.

Protect yourself in the sun
You can protect your skin from further sun damage by following simple sun protection practices every day. It is never too late to start protecting your skin.

Be sun safe every day – not just at work or at the beach, but in the garden, walking the dog or going shopping.

Avoid the sun in peak UV times between 10am and 2pm (11am and 3pm during daylight saving).

Stay in the shade whenever possible.

Wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible.

Wear a broad-brimmed hat.

Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30-plus rating. Reapply every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.

Need more information?

Call the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20 or visit the Council’s web site at www.cancercouncil.com.au; and

Kay Coppa is the manager of skin cancer prevention at The Cancer Council NSW. Information for this article has been sourced, with permission, from the Cancer Council NSW’s Skin Cancer: Get the facts and save your own skin booklet.

The spots to look out for:

SGT Rob Orr is a PTI at Gallipoli Barracks