0 “RAYZING AN AWARENESS” OF MELANOMA BY BEING SUN SMART

I didn’t know you could die from one mole on the back of your shoulder. Little did I know that same mole would ultimately kill my husband, Bill Walter, 4 years after his diagnosis, leaving behind 2 young children. Now, 13 years later, it has become my mission to spread the word on how deadly and harmful the sun can be.

What is melanoma skin cancer? 

Melanoma can represent itself as a mole (but not always) from over-exposure to the sun and/or tanning beds. Cancerous cells break away from a mole and can spread to vital organs such as the liver, lungs, pancreas, bone, spine and brain, and can be deadly if not caught early. Melanoma is highly preventable if caught early.

Did you know…

According to the Melanoma Research Foundation and the American Cancer Society:

• Melanoma is the 5^th most commonly diagnosed cancer in Colorado?
• It only takes 15-20 minutes of intense sun to cause a sunburn?
• One severe, blistering sunburn before the age of 18, doubles your likelihood of developing melanoma and other skin cancers?
• Lying in a tanning bed for only 20 minutes is the same as lying on the beach for 2 hours during the middle of the day?
• 80% of sun damage occurs before the age of 18?
• The only way to have a safe tan is from a bottle or spray?

So, what can you do to protect your skin from the sun and to reduce your chances of developing skin cancer?

• Wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher if you are going to be outside (cloudy or sunny) longer than 15-20 minutes
• Wear UVA/UVB approved sunglasses
• Avoid being in the sun during the midday hours
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat
• Avoid tanning beds—they are even more dangerous than laying out in the sun
• Cover as much exposed skin as you can

I wish we would have known how dangerous and deadly the sun could be! Everyone loves the sun in Colorado; we love the energy it gives us and the Vitamin D we receive for our bones, but just play it safe in the sun the next time you go out to enjoy our beautiful Colorado outdoors!

For more information about melanoma or our melanoma foundation, please visit www.rayz-awareness.org or e-mail me at mebeski@comcast.net.

Special Guest 9Health Fair Blog Written and Provided by Kathy Walter:

 

Kathy Walter lives in Ft. Collins, Colorado with her 2 teenagers; Austin, age 18, and Katherine, age 15.  She became widowed after her husband, Bill Walter, died from Stage 4 Melanoma in 1998 at the age of 36.  Since Bill’s death, she has been an advocate for sun safety and skin cancer prevention by becoming an event organizer for the “RayZ Awareness of Melanoma 5K Walk/Run” fundraising events held in Ft. Collins. Kathy has also become an outreach educator by developing a melanoma sun-safety interactive educational board that has been used in the 9Health Fair in the Classroom and the community 9Health Fair programs. She has visited numerous health fairs throughout the Denver area for 10 years.