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- $Unique_ID{BRK00861}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{What Factors Determine Who Gets Skin Cancer?}
- $Subject{cancer cancers cancerous carcinoma neoplasm neoplasms Skin Malignant
- melanoma overexposure ultraviolet radiation risk risks fair skinned work
- outdoors family history albinism sun screen}
- $Volume{B-20}
- $Log{}
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- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- What Factors Determine Who Gets Skin Cancer?
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- QUESTION: Articles in the papers are frightening. Is it true that skin
- cancer is on the rise? What factors determine who gets this disease?
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- ANSWER: There are many different skin cancers. Malignant melanoma, the most
- serious form of the disease, is increasing faster than all other cancers save
- lung cancer in women. At least one out of every seven Americans will develop
- some form of skin cancer, and the American Cancer Society has predicted that
- if current trends continue, malignant melanoma will affect one person out of
- 100 by the year 2000. Skin cancers are primarily caused by overexposure to
- the sun's ultraviolet radiation; fair-skinned people, and people who work
- outdoors are all particularly vulnerable. If there is a history of skin
- cancer in your family, or if you suffer from any genetic disease (such as
- albinism) that makes exposure to sunlight discomforting, you are also at
- higher risk, as are people living in climates where the sun's rays are more
- intense. When detected and treated in time, at least 90% of skin cancers are
- curable; but to play it safe, limit your unprotected exposure to the sun, and
- apply a protective sun screen regularly before putting your fair skin in
- harm's way.
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- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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