Since Memorial Day traditionally signals the beginning of summer, the American Cancer Society is greasing up its skin cancer awareness campaign.
It started with "Don't Fry Day," observed on Friday.
"One of the best parts of summer is being outside, either at the pool, lake, beach, etc. On Don't Fry Day, we hope to remind people of the simple things they can do to help prevent skin cancer in their lives," said local spokeswoman Sara E. Smith.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and an estimated one American dies every hour from the disease, according to the society's 2008 Cancer Facts and Figures report.
"It's perfectly natural for people to spend a day at the lake or the pool. Just be mindful of how much sun you're getting," Smith said.
Some health experts point out Americans' increasing need for vitamin D, which the sun provides quite well.
Current research has implicated vitamin D deficiency as a major factor in the pathology of more than 17 types of cancer, heart disease, stroke and more, according to the Vitamin D Council.
"Vitamin D is important, but sun exposure should be done only in moderation," Smith said.
Some quick and simple measures can be taken to reduce excessive ultraviolet radiation from the sun, including reapplying sunscreen every hour, alternating the wearing of a T-shirt every other hour with sunscreen, wearing a hat and wearing sunglasses,
she said.
Recommendations also include avoiding artificial sources of ultraviolet light, such as sunlamps or tanning beds, Smith said.
The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention also recommends examining your skin regularly. Suspicious lesions or progressive changes in a lesion's appearance or size should be evaluated promptly by a physician.
"We understand that people like that sun glow tan during the summer," Smith said. "We want people to be mindful of the effects and protect their skin responsibly."
Kim Archer 581-8315 kim.archer@tulsaworld.com To see more of the Tulsa World, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tulsaworld.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Tulsa World, Okla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
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