Risk Factors and Prevention of Skin Cancer

The sun doesn’t care what season it is, it’s always putting you at risk for skin cancer. Use preventive measures, such as wearing sunscreen or protective clothing, year-round to lower your risk of developing life-threatening cancer.

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[ID: An infographic about the risk factors and prevention methods of Skin Cancer. Both sections are on top of a half-sun, with risk factors sun being orange and red (more intense), and prevention’s being yellow and orange (less intense). Risk Factors. Indoor Tanning: 1 session increases risk of life-threatening melanoma by 75%. Sunburn: 5 or more doubles risk of life-threatening melanoma. Skin Type: Every skin type can burn, but fair skin is most easily burned. UVA/UVB Exposure: A high UV index will burn unprotected skin faster/worse. Genetics: Some are genetically predipositioned to get sunburned. Atypical Moles: Those with 10 or more have 12 times risk of melanoma. Red Hair: 1.5 times risk of basal cell carcinomas and 12 times squamous cell carcinomas. Prevention. Sunscreen: SPF 30+, apply 30 min prior, reapply every 2 hrs. Protective Clothing: Dark/bright colors and densely woven fabrics. Car/Home Window Film: Look for the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation. Annual Skin Exams: Visit your physician yearly for skin exams. Monthly Self- Exams. Anything new, changing, or unusual, immediately visit dermatologist. Healthy Diet: Eat daily recommendations of vitamins C, E, A, and pink, selenium, beta carotene, omega 3-fatty acids, lycopene, and polyphenols. End description.]

May: Brain Cancer Awareness Month

The most common symptoms of brain cancer are:

• Headaches
• Seizures
• Difficulty thinking/speaking
• Personality changes
• Tingling/Stiffness on one side of the body
• Loss of balance
• Vision changes
• Memory loss
• Nausea
• Disorientation
• Muscle weakness
• Anxiety/Depression

These are not all the symptoms of brain cancer, and brain cancer is NOT the only cause of these symptoms. If you suddenly or frequently experience any of these, go to your doctor so they can determine the cause.

[ID: An illustration of the side view of the human brain, with each lobe colored differently, with the most common symptoms arranged to follow the shape of the brain/lobes. The lobe-specific symptoms of brain cancer are in list formats outside the brain and correlate in color to the lobes. Frontal lobe: Personality changes, Increased aggression/irritation, Apathy, Weakness on one side of the body, Loss of smell, Difficulty walking, and Vision / Speech problems. Parietal lobe: Difficulty speaking/understanding, Problems reading/writing, and Loss of feeling in part of the body. Occipital lobe: Vision problems. Meninges: Headache, Nausea/vomiting, Sight problems, and Neck pain. Pituitary Gland: Lack of energy, Weight gain, Mood swings, High blood pressure, Diabetes, Enlarged hands/feet, Irregular/infrequent periods, and Infertility/impotence. Temporal lobe: Forgetting words, Short-term memory loss, and Seizures (often associated with strange smells/feelings). Brain Stem: Issues with coordination, Eyelid/mouth droops to one side, Difficulty swallowing, Difficulty speaking, and Double vision. Cerebellum: Issues with coordination, Uncontrolled eye movement, Nausea/vomiting, Neck stiffness, and Dizziness. Spinal Cord: Pain, Numbness, Weakness in legs/arms, Loss of bladder/bowel control, and Difficulty walking. End description.]