USA Mitchell Cancer Institute

SPF 90 Team

Alabama’s skin cancer rate is one of the highest in the country. Multiple factors influence this trend, but overexposure to harmful sun rays is the most significant factor - one that can be modified. It is also well established that early detection of melanoma increases the cure rates as much as 90 percent.

The USA Mitchell Cancer Institute in 2006 established a new outreach and education program called the SPF 90 Team. SPF is an acronym for Skin Protection Force and 90 represents the percentage of skin cancer that is curable with early detection.

The acronym SPF 90 represents Skin Protection Force and is designed to create a question that leads to dialogue about its meaning and the fact that 90 percent of all skin cancers are curable with early detection.

During the year, the SPF 90 Team participates in community events such as the Azalea Trail Run, the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo and visits the beach on Labor Day in Gulf Shores.

Read “More Than A Day At The Beach” in USA Medicine Magazine (page 16).

Tips on Preventing Skin Cancer:

*Protect yourself with sunscreen (SPF 15 or more) and reapply every two hours.
*Wear clothing and and hats to minimize sun exposure. A wide-brimmed hat is much better than baseball cap).
*Avoid sun exposure most dangerous times - from 10 a.m to 4 p.m.
*Examine your skin from head to toe once a month. If you notice changes in your skin (see “A, B, C, D, E’s” for what to look for), have it looked at immediately by your primary care doctor or a dermatologist.
*Do not use tanning booths.

Risk factors that can’t be modified:

Some risk factors for developing skin cancer can not be modified. These are still important to identify because they place you in a higher risk group for developing skin cancer.
*Fair skin.
*Blue or green eyes.
*Blonde or red hair.
*Family history of skin cancer.
*Previous diagnosis of skin cancer.

Remember A,B,C,D.

When examining your skin, you should be concerned about a mole if it changes suddenly or has the American Cancer Society's A,B,C,D characteristics:
“A” is for asymmetry; if one half of the mole does not match the other half.
“B” is for border; check for irregular, ragged, notched or blurred edges.
“C” is for color; the pigmentation is not uniform with different shades of brown and black, sometimes with patches of red, white and blue.
“D” is for diameter greater than 6 millimeters.
"E" is for elevation.

Any suspicious mole should be evaluated by a physician with experience in evaluating skin diseases.

Click photo for larger version

To learn more about melanoma, follow links below for recent research:

Dr. Riker screens at the July 21st Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo.

Dr Alina Hongsakaphadana, Family Medicine Resident at the University of South Alabama, explains self-screening techniques to an interested mom.

Dr. Tariq Farooqui, Family Medicine Resident, explains that sun-damage looks like "age spots".

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