Sharon A. Taylor, a nurse practitioner who works at SLCC’s Health & Wellness Services provides valuable information about melanoma:
When identifying a mole that could indicate a risk, look for changes in the mole’s (A)symmetry — (B)order — (C)olor — or (D)iameter, any lesion more than 6mm should be checked by a physician.
These are signs that any lesion or a mole on the skin could be something more than just a lesion.
”The best way to prevent Melanoma is to use sunscreen every time someone goes outside in the sun,” said Taylor. “Also, family members should pay attention to each other as sometimes moles are growing on people’s backs and may be hard to see.”
Health & Wellness Services at the SLCC Taylorsville Redwood Campus offers mole removal for a reasonable fee.
Lundon Bywater was diagnosed with phase two melanoma (skin cancer) at a young age. Today, she attends Salt Lake Community College with a major in mass communication.
In Bywater’s case, doctors were able to diagnose the cancer before it spread to the lymph nodes. This meant that she wouldn’t need chemotherapy as part of her treatment, raised her chances for a successful rehabilitation and lessened the cancer’s chance for reoccurrence.
“I will graduate this year. My dream is to become a PR or event coordinator,” said Bywater. “Cancer only made me stronger.”
Bywater is not alone in developing skin cancer at such a young age. In the last few decades, the occurrence of melanoma in young people has increased.
”Melanoma is more prevalent among young males because they tend to spend more time in the sun,” said Dona Branson, Hunstman Cancer Institute director of patient and public education.
Young men are far from the only group at risk. Any significant amount of time in the sun increases the risk of developing melanoma for anyone.
Even though skin cancer has become more common, public awareness of the warning signs, such as changing moles, has reduced melanoma fatalities.
Research shows there is strong correlation between sunburn and melanoma.
“Once you received the damage from the sun, there is no reverse and way to reduce the risk from melanoma,” said Branson. “People in Utah are at greater risk for melanoma because our residents love outdoors.”
For more information about risks for melanoma, contact the Huntsman Cancer Learning Center by toll free phone at (801)888-424-2100, or e-mail patient.education@hci.utah.edu
