The diagnosis and treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers in the U.S. increased by 77 percent between 1994 and 2014. ... Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer. An estimated 4.3 million cases of BCC are diagnosed in the U.S. each year resulting in more than 3,000 deaths. Designed by Rachel Uttenburg/John NEwqusit

1. Skin Cancer:
Risk and Prevention

2. What is Skin Cancer?
• Skin cancer is an uncontrolled growth of
abnormal skin cells. It most often develops on
areas of the skin exposed to the sun’s rays.
• In the US, more people are diagnosed with skin
cancer each year than ALL other types of cancer
combined.
• Rates of incidence of all types of skin cancer
have increased dramatically in the past three
decades, and continue to increase each year.
• However, skin cancer is also the easiest cancer
to be treated, especially when detected early,
and is less likely to be fatal than many other
cancers.

3. • Skin cancer is the most common form
of cancer in the United States.
• The two most common types of skin
cancer—basal cell and squamous cell
carcinomas—are highly curable, but
can be disfiguring and costly to treat.
• Melanoma, the third most common
skin cancer, is more dangerous and
causes the most deaths.
• The majority of these three types of
skin cancer are caused by
overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light,
most commonly through sunlight or
tanning beds.
Types of Skin Cancer

4. Indicators of skin cancer may include:
● Irregular borders on moles (ragged,
notched, or blurred edges)
● Moles that are not symmetrical (one
half doesn’t match the other)
● Colors that are not uniform throughout
● Moles that are bigger than a pencil
eraser
● Itchy or painful moles
● New moles
● Sores that bleed and do not heal
● Red patches or lumps
Screening for Skin Cancer

5. The treatment and prognosis of skin cancer varies widely,
depending on which type and how early it is detected.
• Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin
cancer. It grows very slowly and almost never
metastasizes.
• Most BCCs can be treated and removed with minor
surgery or other local treatment.
• The goals of treatment are to completely remove all
cancer cells while preserving the function and
appearance of the affected body part.
• The cure rate when BCC is removed surgically can be
as high as 91 to 98%.
• Advanced BCC is so rare that there is very little
information about survival rates.
Treatment and Prognosis

6. • Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is the second most
common skin cancer. Most cases are easily treated;
however, SCC is more likely than BCC to be invasive and
metastatic.
• When SCC is found early—and most are—treatment
usually cures this cancer.
• Various methods used to surgically remove SCC tumors
have a typical cure rate of 92 to 97%
• About 5% to 10% of SCC cases are “high-risk” or likely
to grow back or spread.
• Unfortunately, because cases of SCC are not reported
to cancer registries it is difficult to estimate survival
rates. It is clear that if SCC does metastasize, it becomes
very difficult to treat and far more likely to result in
death.
Treatment and Prognosis

7. • Melanoma is a less common type of skin cancer, but it
is more dangerous. Melanoma is more likely to invade
deeper layers of skin and spread to other body parts.
• Most melanomas can be treated and removed with
surgery if they are caught early.
• Melanomas are removed with a procedure called wide
excision, wherein the surgeon removes the entire
tumor, along with some of the healthy skin surrounding
it. The purpose is to remove any cancer cells that might
have spread, reducing the risk that the tumor will recur.
• The 5-year survival rate for melanoma depends greatly
on which stage the cancer is in when treatment begins.
It can range anywhere from 17.9% to 98.4%.
• Early detection is key!!
Treatment and Prognosis

8. • Skin cancer affects people of all colors and
races, although those with light skin who
sunburn easily have a higher risk.
• Sun damage is cumulative, meaning that more
time spent in the sun daily continues to increase
risk of skin cancer over years of a lifetime.
• Reflection from bright surfaces like concrete,
metal, snow, or sand can increase total sun
exposure.
• Outdoor laborers are at an increased risk for
skin cancer, but because the risk is gradual and
not as immediate as the risks of accidental
death or injury, skin protection is often
overlooked as a workplace safety issue.
Skin Cancer Risk

9. • The National Weather Service and the
Environmental Protection Agency
developed the UV Index to forecast the
risk of overexposure to UV rays.
• The UV Index lets you know how much
caution you should take when spending
time outdoors that day.
• The UV Index predicts exposure levels on a
0 to 15 scale; higher levels indicate a
higher risk of overexposure.
• If the UV index is 3 or higher, sun
protection is needed - even if it is not a
sunny day.
UV Index

10. • Clothing is a first line of
defense. Cover as much skin as
possible when spending time
outside.
• Other safety gear that blocks
the sun should also be used. For
example, a flap of fabric can be
attached to the back of hard
hats to protect the neck, and
wearing sunglasses or safety
glasses that filter out UV rays
should be encouraged.
Prevention: Clothing

11. • Sunscreen should be applied to all
remaining exposed skin.
• It is recommended that everybody
wear sunscreen of at least SPF 15,
every day. Doing so cuts the risk of
melanoma developing later on by
50%, and can also decrease skin
aging.
• When spending a significant
amount of time outside, prepare by
applying sunscreen of SPF 30 or
higher, 20 minutes in advance.
Prevention: Sunscreen

12. • Seek shade as much as possible, and
avoid working in direct sunlight.
• The sun is most intense during the
hours of 10am to 4pm, so it is
especially important to protect skin
and avoid extended time in the sun
during those hours.
• If working in direct sunlight is
unavoidable, be sure to take
frequent breaks in the shade to cool
down, drink water, and reapply
sunscreen.
Prevention: Shade

13. Employers can adopt these strategies and
others to keep outdoor workers safer from
exposure to the sun:
• Offer training on sun safety, or include it
in existing wellness programs.
• Provide sunscreen and other protection,
such as hard hat flaps, at all work sites.
• Increase shade at the worksite by
providing tents, shelters, and cooling
stations.
• Decrease UV reflection by covering shiny
or reflective surfaces.
Prevention: Employers

14. Other ways employers can keep outdoor
workers safer from sun exposure:
• Schedule frequent breaks in the shade
and give workers time to reapply
sunscreen.
• If possible, schedule outdoor work before
10am or after 4pm to reduce time spent
working in the most intense sunlight.
• Post each day’s UV Index and what level
of protection is needed.
• Rotate workers to reduce each person’s
UV exposure time.
Prevention: Employers