Men and Women Alike Should Be Aware of Melanoma Risk

SPRINGFIELD — True or false? Women are more likely than men to get skin cancer.

False!

In fact, more than 8,600 American men will die this year from melanoma. Men over age 50 are more than twice as likely as women to develop and die from skin cancer, and men are twice as likely to develop basal and squamous cell skin cancers. But, despite these dire figures, there is good news.

“Many skin cancers can be prevented by simply refraining from being out in the sun for extended periods of time without protection. Also, early detection is one of the best ways to cure melanoma, and we all know that men are less likely to see their doctor,” said Dr. Richard Arenas, chief of Surgical Oncology with the Baystate Regional Cancer Program.

June 15-21 is Men’s Health Week, celebrated each year as the week leading up to and including Father’s Day, and is designed to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems like skin cancer and encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury.

“Studies have shown that men are actually exposed to the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays more than women, and they are less likely to slather on the sunscreen lotion,” said Arenas, who noted that skin cancer can be deadly even for young people and is the number-one cause of cancer-related deaths for patients in their 20s and 30s. Case in point: many men go shirtless during the warmer summer months, whether working or playing, from cutting the lawn to hitting the basketball court.

According to the Baystate Medical Center oncologist, both men and women should examine their skin from head to toe every month and see their physician every year for a skin exam. Melanoma is most often found in men between the shoulder and hips, and on the head, ears, and neck.

“But we also know that men are less likely to check their skin for any signs of suspicious moles or other lesions,” he said. Arenas and the Skin Cancer Foundation recommend the following additional guidelines to protect yourself from the sun’s damaging rays:

• Seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when UV light is most intense. Do not allow yourself to get a sunburn by covering up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.

• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Apply 1 ounce or 2 tablespoons of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.

“It’s all about prevention, early detection, and getting yourself to the doctor,” Arenas said.