UV Safety Month

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By Diane Forrest, RN

July is a very busy and hot month.  It starts off with a Bang, on July 4th and continues on through the month with families going on vacations and spending time outside. That is why this month was chosen to make you aware of Ultra Violet light safety.  U-V light rays are transmitted by the sun.  Over exposures to these rays can cause skin cancer.  UV light can also damage eyes.  Anyone can get skin cancer, but the risk is greatest for people with:

• White or light-colored skin with freckles
• Blond or red hair
• Blue or green eyes

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You can take these steps to help prevent skin cancer:

• Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.
• Cover up with long sleeves and a hat.
• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.
• Check your skin regularly for changes

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Prevention is so simple, and only takes a few minutes to protect your skin from harmful rays.  If you notice any changes to your skin, go to your doctor and have it examined.  Recently my parents visited a dermatologist and had some precancerous lesions removed, quickly and painlessly.  Now they can simply use a laser to zap the growths away.

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July is a great time to spend time outside, having fun and making a splash.  But don't forget about safety.  Like my granny used to say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Sun Screen Day

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By Diane Forrest

When I was in high school and college the big thing was to lay out and tan.  We would get spray bottles and fill them with olive oil, and bake in the sun like steaks grilling on the grill.  I remember one cold day in March, the sun was shining, but it was a bit chilly.  That didnt stop me from getting an early start on my tan.  As I was laying on the lounger I looked up and saw a helicopter hovering over me.  It was my father with some work associates!  They had been checking power lines, and talking about one of the perks of the job was getting to see the girls out tanning.  It being cold out, they weren't having any luck until my father said, oh I know one girl out tanning! He was right.

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Luckily I became educated in the dangers of U V light and my tanning days ended as well as my days of smelling like a burnt salad. Now if I am planning a day out in the sun I lather on protection with sun screen, the highest available.   With this being Memorial Day weekend and the start of summer and vacations, it is the perfect time to start stocking up on Sun screen.

Sunlight consists of ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays, both of which are harmful to humans. UVA rays cause suppression of the immune system, which has a negative impact on the body's ability to protect against the development and spread of skin cancer. UVB rays cause a sunburn to occur, which can also lead to the development of skin cancer.

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There are more than one million cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the United States each year. To minimize your risk, wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun — even on non-sunny days. Sunscreen should be applied 15 to 30 minutes before going outside and should be reapplied every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Even if you do not typically burn from the sun, your skin is still at risk from the harmful UV rays.

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Today is Sun Screen Day.  Don't forget to spread some protection on yourself, and family members, especially small children and the elderly.  Enjoy the sun, and keep safe.

Melanoma Monday

May 2, 2011

Cancer awareness can be seen everywhere.  If you see something pink, you almost always think of breast cancer.   See smoke, you think of lung cancer.  Men worry about prostate cancer.  Cancer is a subject that weighs heavily on people's minds and hearts.  Nearly everyone has a friend, family member or neighbor that has either experienced cancer, or knows someone who has.   Organizations across the world hold numerous fund raisers to aid in finding a cure.  However, something you may not know, the number one form of cancer is skin cancer.  There are over 1 million new cases every year!   It has also been estimated that nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once.

The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change in the appearance of the skin, such as a new growth or a sore that will not heal.

Risk factors for developing skin cancer:

·       exposure to sun;

·       age ( usually appears after age 50, however the damage begins early in life);

·       fair skin;

·       exposure to ultraviolet radiation such as tanning beds;

·       therapeutic radiation such as radiation treatment for other cancer; and

·       weak immune system either by disease or medication.

Diagnosis:

·       once a growth or sore is noticed, your doctor will perform a biopsy which is done by taking a scraping of the area.  The shaved cells are then examined under a microscope to determine if there are any cancerous cells.

Treatment:

·       There are several different methods for treating skin cancer, it depends on the size and location, so each treatment plan is individualized for the best possible method.

·       Curettage and desiccation: Dermatologists often prefer this method, which consists of scooping out the basal cell carcinoma by using a spoon like instrument called a curette. Desiccation is the additional application of an electric current to control bleeding and kill the remaining cancer cells. The skin heals without stitching. This technique is best suited for small cancers in non-crucial areas such as the trunk and extremities.

·       Surgical excision.

·       Radiation Therapy.

·       Cryosurgy using liquid nitrogen and freezing the area.

·       Medication therapy using creams.

Prevention:

·       limiting recreational sun exposure;

·       avoiding unprotected exposure to the sun during peak radiation times (the hours surrounding noon);

·       wearing broad-brimmed hats and tightly-woven protective clothing while outdoors in the sun;

·       Use sunscreen;

·       Regular check-ups and report any suspicious skin changes; and

·       Avoid using tanning beds.

As my daddy says, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Use common sense while outdoors, however if you do notice new or unusual changes in you skin, seek treatment quickly.  There is a 90% chance of full recovery.

Coming this week on Keeping it Simple (KISBYTO)…

A new month, May is full of many events, activities, observance and other interesting things to share with our beloved readers.  It is also the week prior to our family cruise which will depart on Sunday, May 8^th for a week in the Atlantic. Granddaughter, daughter, son-in-law, grandma and I are all mentally sync for this trip.  So let us share with you what we have planned for this week – knowing things can changes, but this is what on our plate to deliver.

Mother Goose an all time favorite with young and old – stories to share and to tell over and over.

May Day is celebrated all over and in many different ways – but a lot of us it’s the blooming of the flowers that gets our juices flowing.

Melanoma Monday:  The number one form of cancer is skin cancer.  There are over 1 million new cases every year!  It has also been estimated that nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once.

 National Truffle Day: Delicious dessert made with a chocolate gouache center that is then coated in chocolate powder. Talk about a piece of chocolate heaven!

World & National Asthma Day is both celebrated this week and our team will cover these observances.  This year’s theme, of World Asthma Day 2011 will be "You Can Control Your Asthma."

National Teacher Day is also celebrated this week and time to break out the soap box for these brave men and women who put forth a tremendous effort to teach our children (and grandchildren) who are grossly under paid and many lack the tools they desperately need to carry out their jobs.

  

International Firefighters Day to honor and support firefighters who risk their lives every day to help their communities.  As many of you know, my son-in-law Darrin in Seattle is a fireman. It is a special day that I take pride in recognizing and give my sincere thanks to all the men and women do this job.

 Cinco de Mayo has been a celebrated holiday since May 5, 1862 after the unexpected victory over the French army.

National Nurses Week begins on the 6^th of May and is also Nurses Day that ends on the 12^th.  Like other important dates in life, birthday, anniversary, when you first met your spouse and where, this celebration is also high on my dates to remember.  My wife is a nurse.  Diane is a nurse and several other friends are nurses or in the process of becoming one.  We will do our best to help celebrate!

Mothers Day – A very special day and we all give thanks to our mothers.

Did you know?

Brothers and Sisters Day is a day to cherish your siblings that is celebrated on May 2. Sure, there's times when you love your brothers and sisters. And, there's times when you want to disown them. All in all, having a brother and/or a sister or two is invaluable. The older you get, the more you learn to appreciate them.

National Hoagie Day is celebrated every May 5^th and was created to give us a special day to enjoy and celebrate a big, tasty hoagie. You know of this big sandwich as a hoagie, a sub or a hero. And, it's a regular on most diets in America. People eat them for lunch, dinner, and even as a late night snack. It's a quick meal or people on the go.

National Train Day is celebrated on May 9^th. The year 1869 was a really exciting time in America. The Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads were speeding across the wild, American frontier, laying tracks for what would soon become the first Transcontinental rail line.

Other things going on in the Month of May are:

·       Date Your Mate Month

·       Foster Care Month

·       National Barbecue Month

·       National Bike Month

·       National Hamburger Month

·       National Photograph Month

·       Older Americans Month

·       First Newspaper Cartoon was in 1754

·       Butterscotch Brownie on May 9

·       Fruit Cocktail on May 13

·       Friday 13 on May 13

·       First Nickel Day on May 16, 1866 and was called ‘Shield Nickel’

·       Also on the 16^th is Sea Monkey Day

·       Cheese Soufflé on May 18

·       Visit Your Relatives Day on May 18

·       Strawberries and Cream on May 21

·       Lucky Penny on May 23^r

·       Escargot day is May 24^t

·       Wine Day on May 25^t

·       Blueberry Cheesecake on May 26

·       Grape Popsicle on May 27