Is melanoma skin cancer preventable?

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Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Is melanoma skin cancer preventable?
One person dies from melanoma every hour and one in five Americans will develop skin cancer. The summer sun is only one culprit.

One person dies from melanoma every hour and one in five Americans will develop skin cancer. The summer sun is only one culprit.

A study published in Cancer Epidemiology found that teenage sunburns greatly increased the risk for melanoma.

If your teen likes tanning, its time to have a talk. But does that mean you're safe during the winter?

The answer is no!

People who participate in winter sports are at increased risk for overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation also.

UV radiation exposure increases up to five percent with every 1,000 feet above sea level, and snow can reflect 80 percent of UV light from the sun.

So apply sunscreen to all exposed skin, even on cloudy days.

The American Cancer Society uses the catchphrase: "slip, slop, slap and wrap!" as a reminder of the ways to prevent skin cancer.

And grab a cup of coffee! A 10-year study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that drinking coffee is associated with a reduced risk of skin cancer.