Cancer Articles (Dr. S.N White)

Should I take precautions while sunbathing?  Yes, you should. Try to acquire your tan slowly in the earlymorning or late afternoon sun. Begin at 15 minutes per day and gradually work up to between 30 and 45 minutes. Avoid blistering sunburns. Avoid midday sun. Use a sunscreen, beginning with the highest sun protection factor (SPF) and gradually decreasing. What does the term sun protection factor mean?   Sun protection factor indicates how long you can stay in the sun without burning. If a sunscreen has an SPF of 4, it means you can stay out in the sun four times longer than without the screen and not get burned. People with lighter skin need a higher SPF than those with darker skin. What SPF gives the highest protection?   The SPF values range from 2 to 15. They are usually numbered 2, 4, 6, 8, 15. Some newer sunscreens have an SPF of 18 and above with the ability to stay on for many hours even when you are wet. Apply at least 30 minutes before going into the s...

Skin Cancers Cancer of the skin is the most common kind of cancer and, because it is visible, it is the most easily diagnosed and treated. It is estimated that between 500,000 and 900,000 such cancers are treated each year. With the exception of malignant melanoma, skin cancer is also the most curable of all cancers. Skin cancer can develop in almost any area of the skin. The face, neck, forearms, and backs of hands, because they are most exposed, are the most common sites. Long term exposure to the sun is the most common cause of skin cancer. Those Most Likely to Get Skin Cancer  • Light skinned persons living in the southern part of the country • Persons who have had excessive exposure to the sun without protection, such as farmers, seamen, ranchers, etc. • Persons over 40 years of age, males more often than females • Persons with fair complexions whose skin sunburns rather than tans • Relatives of persons with basal cell skin cancer • Persons who have had exces...