Serving Southwest Nebraska and the Communities in and around
Furnas and Red Willow Counties
Serving Southwest Nebraska and the Communities in and around
Furnas and Red Willow Counties
CAMBRIDGE - Cambridge held its Memorial Day service at the Cambridge Cemetery Monday. Kalen Farr gave the Gettysburg Address, Olivia Taylor provided a vocal music special, Father Robert Barnhill gave an address and Dave Taylor read the Roll of Honor. Seth Cope played Taps and the Cambridge American Legion gave the salute.
“Melanoma Monday” is the first Monday of May and the kick-off of May Melanoma Skin Cancer Month. May 2, 2011 is also known as National Skin Self-Examination Day. This month, people are encouraged to examine their skin for skin cancer.
Melanoma is a cancer that starts in a certain type of skin cell, the melanocytes. Because most melanoma cells still produce melanin, melanoma tumors are usually brown or black. But this is not always true, as melanomas can be non-pigmented (no color). Having dark skin lowers the risk of melanoma but it does not mean that a person with dark skin will never get melanoma.
This skin cancer can almost always be cured in its early stages but it is likely to spread to other parts of the body if it is not caught early. Melanoma is much less common than basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, but it is far more dangerous.
Melanomas can occur anywhere on the skin, but are more likely to start in certain locations such as the neck and face. In men, the chest and back are the most common sites and the legs are the most commonly affected site in women.
Cancer of the skin is by far the most common of all cancers. Melanoma accounts for less than five percent of skin cancer cases but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths. The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates that about 68,130 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed in 2009 and about 8,700 deaths were caused from melanoma. The number of new cases of melanoma in the United States has been increasing for at least 30 years. Overall, the lifetime risk of getting melanoma is about one in 50 for white-skinned people.
Scientists have found several risk factors that may make a person more likely to develop melanoma. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and frequent sunburns (especially in childhood) are major risk factors for most melanomas. Most moles, non- cancerous malanocytic tumor usually not present at birth, will usually never cause any problems, but a person who has many moles is more likely to develop melanoma. The chance of any single mole turning into cancer is very low. However, anyone with lots of irregular or large moles has an increased risk for melanoma.
Around ten percent of all people with melanoma have a family history of the disease and about five to ten percent of people with melanoma will develop a second one at some point.
Not all melanomas can be prevented, but there are ways to reduce your risk. The best way to lower the risk of melanoma is to limit your exposure to strong sunlight and other sources of UV light. Be "sun safe" when you are outdoors - "Slip! Slop! Slap! … and Wrap" is a catch phrase to remind you of the four key ways you can protect yourself from UV light. Slip on a shirt. Slop on sunscreen and lip balm. Slap on a hat. Wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and the skin around them.
It's important to know the difference between melanoma and a harmless mole. A normal mole is most often an evenly colored brown, tan, or black spot on the skin. It can be either flat or raised, round or oval. Moles are usually less than 1/4 inch across, or about the width of a pencil eraser. Moles can be present at birth or they can appear later. Several moles can appear at the same time.
Most people have moles, and almost all moles are harmless. But it is important to notice changes in a mole - such as its size, shape, or color - that suggest a melanoma may be starting.
The most important warning sign for melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color. A spot that looks different from all of the other spots on your skin can also be a warning. If you have any of these warning signs, have your skin checked by a doctor.
The ABCD rule can help you tell a normal mole from an abnormal mole. Moles that have any of these signs should be checked by a doctor. A is for asymmetry: one half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other. B is for border: the edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. C is for color: the color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, or there may be patches of pink, red, white, or blue. D is for diameter: the spot is larger than about ¼ inch, but melanomas can be smaller than this.
Another important sign of melanoma is a mole that is growing or changing in shape or color. Still, some melanomas do not fit the "rules" above. It may be hard to tell if the mole is normal or not, so you should show your doctor anything that you are unsure of.
Relay For Life of Furnas County will take place on June 24, 2011 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. at the Cambridge High School Track. If the forecast is rain, the event will be held in the Cambridge High School gymnasium. For more information please contact Judy Hayes at 308-697-3637 or jhayes@atcjet.net. For more information on cancer, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, about 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
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