20% of Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. So, taking care of you and your family’s skin while outdoors is important.
Dr. Gabriel Vidal, radiation oncologist at the Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma, said everyone living in Oklahoma is exposed to the sun, especially those who work outside like farmers, ranchers and gardeners.
“Skin cancer is not a disease that will happen quickly,” Dr. Vidal said. “It’s usually sun damage to the skin that happens over the course of decades.”
He said people typically start showing signs of skin cancer in their late 50s or early 60s unless they’ve had a lot of sun exposure. He said he’s seen cases in 30-year-olds before.
As for what to watch out for, Dr. Vidal said a mole or skin lesion that gets better but then gets worse over several months is concerning for skin cancer.
“Most of our cuts and wounds will, over time, heal, but if something hasn’t healed, something is getting bigger, something is changing color, it should be looked at,” Dr. Vidal explained.
He said most of the time, they’re on the surface.
“But the concern we have for skin cancers is that if they’re not looked at promptly, they could become larger in size and eventually travel to distant parts of the body,” he said.
Being physically active, whether that’s hiking, swimming, at the lake, or whatever summertime activity you enjoy, is important, but Dr. Vidal encourages people to be safe.
“We always worry about the ears,” he said. “These areas are exposed to the sun even if you’re wearing a ball cap. So, if you’re out and about, making sure that you have sunscreen in place, making sure that you have a bigger hat in place, protecting those areas.”
He said the sun is most intense between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., so he encourages people to avoid doing things outside during that time if possible. If you are outside, Dr. Vidal said, make sure you’re protected from the sun.
“I think all of us will burn,” Dr. Vidal said. “All of us, when exposed to the Oklahoma sun during the summer for prolonged periods, will eventually sun damage, so I don’t want patients and folks to be afraid of the sun, but it’s just doing it safely.”
The Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma are holding free skin cancer screenings. They’re having one in Altus on May 10, in Lawton on May 17 and in Duncan on May 30. You can get information about how to schedule an appointment by clicking here.
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