Give Dad the Gift of a Longer, Healthier Life with a Skin Cancer Screening for Father's Day
June 12, 2013
Father’s Day is this weekend. Show your Dad how much you truly care by scheduling a skin cancer screening at Associates in Dermatology. After all, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime and the mortality rate for men with the disease is nearly twice as high as for women, particularly for men of the Baby Boomer generation.
Consider these statistics from the Skin Cancer Foundation
- In 2012, upwards of 44,250 men were newly diagnosed with melanoma;
- Of them, nearly 6,060 died;
- These figures represent 12,250 more cases and 2,940 more deaths for men than for women;
- Nearly half of all melanoma skin cancers occur in men over age 50;
- Melanoma is one of only three cancers with an increased mortality rate for men.
Of course, an American dad will celebrate Father’s Day with a cookout, a day at the beach or a few rounds on the golf course – favorite pastimes for men of all ages. Golf alone can expose men to hours upon hours of sun exposure, particularly on courses that feature water ponds and sand traps, which can reflect up to 80 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation back on players. In fact, in just one hour, recreational golfers can be hit with 3.5 to 5.4 times the amount of UV rays required to cause a sunburn.
But chances are the dad you love is far less mindful of protecting his skin than are the ladies in his life. Adult men over age 40 have the highest annual UV exposure, and most melanoma diagnoses are for Caucasian men over age 50.
“Women pay far more attention to their skin and take precautions to protect it early,” says Dr Michael Steppie of the Skin Cancer Foundation and Associates in Dermatology. “That’s where men can learn something valuable – even potentially life-saving – from women.”
Dr. Steppie encourages men of all ages to take a cue from the ladies.
“Limit your sun exposure and wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 every time you go into the sun,” he recommends. “And if you notice a change in the color, size or texture of an existing mole, see a dermatologist immediately.”
Dr. Steppie also recommends having a professional skin cancer screening each year and performing self examinations every two to three months, especially for active outdoorsmen.
Fathers are precious to their children, their wives and others. They are our protectors, providers, lovers and friends. If you’re a woman, never underestimate your influence in keeping men you love informed about important health issues and risks. Talk to your father, husband, son, brother or any other man for whom you care about skin cancer. Remind them that if caught early, most skin cancers are curable. But if not treated promptly, they can cause disfigurement and even death.
Show the men you love the most how much you care and call 800-827-SKIN (7546) to schedule a consultation and skin cancer screening at Associates in Dermatology.
To read more more about the article Dr. Steppie wrote, as an elite member of the Amonette Circle, for the Skin Cancer Foundation in 2012 – Skin Cancer & the Gender Gap – click on the following link: http://skincancer.epubxp.com/i/65757/52
