Skin Cancer Awareness Month: How everyday sun exposure adds up over time

When it comes to skin cancer, most people think the risk only comes from long summer days at the beach or pool. However, everyday sun exposure—whether you’re in the car or watching your child’s baseball game—can also cause damage over time if the skin is not properly protected.

To help the community keep their skin safe this summer and beyond, Todd Flannery, MD, a radiation oncologist at St. Mary Radiation Oncology, explains the biggest cancer risk factors, prevention tips, and changes in the skin that warrant a visit to a primary care doctor or dermatologist.

Everyday risks

According to Dr. Flannery, skin damage often occurs in situations when people least expect it:

• Driving in a vehicle for long stretches (especially truck drivers), since the left side of the face and arm are exposed
• Playing outdoor sports like golf, tennis or pickleball, or watching an outdoor sport
• Running long distances outside
• Being on a boat

“Chronic exposure for long periods of time that you don’t think about can add up,” says Dr. Flannery.

Prevention tips

If you’re outside for a quick 15-minute stroll with the dog or walking a few blocks to the grocery store, sun protection isn’t necessarily needed. However, for those who are outside for more than an hour, Dr. Flannery recommends several precautionary tips:

• Wear sunglasses, a brimmed hat and, weather permitting, protective clothing (for example, opting for a light sweatpant instead of shorts)
• Seek shade when possible
• Avoid tanning salons
• Use proper sunscreen application techniques

“The higher the SPF, the longer acting it is. It’s not technically stronger. So if you’re going to be outside all day long for eight hours, it’s important to apply more than once,” says Dr. Flannery. “Make sure to apply it to the ears, nose, face and back of the neck. We see a lot of skin cancers in these locations—it’s not just arms and legs.”

Who is most at risk

While anyone can be diagnosed with skin cancer, certain groups are at higher risk. They include those who:

• Are immunosuppressed
• Have had transplants
• Are on newer medications (immunomodulator therapies) for arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease
• Have a fair complexion
• Have a family history of skin cancer

“All of these individuals should consider seeing a dermatologist once a year to help detect any abnormal skin changes,” says Dr. Flannery.

When to seek medical attention

According to Dr. Flannery, skin cancer is typically slow growing, meaning it might not be immediately obvious that something is wrong. However, it’s important to pay attention to any changes in the skin:

• If an existing mole or freckle follows the ABCDE rule, with alterations in asymmetry, border, color, diameter and/or elevation
• Any new mole or skin lesion that was not there previously
• Itching, bleeding, tingling, discomfort, flakiness, peeling that comes and goes

Treatment

Skin cancer may be the No. 1 type of cancer in the world when combining basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma, but it is also extremely curable—especially when detected early. Treatment typically involves surgery, radiation and medical therapy, though this can vary by patient.

“Surgery is often the first step, but patients can choose just radiation if it’s on an area they don’t want surgery, like part of the face, nose, ear, or where the skin is very thin, like the lower legs over the shin,” says Dr. Flannery.

At St. Mary Radiation Oncology, Dr. Flannery and his team perform a variety of therapies, including electron, photon and brachytherapy—a targeted internal radiation therapy involving a device that sits right on the skin and only requires seven treatments.

“We also work closely with plastic surgeons, medical oncology and other specialists to treat patient needs and offer a comprehensive oncology program,” he adds.

Final message

For Skin Cancer Awareness Month and beyond, Dr. Flannery shares an important message: “We often don’t think of the skin as a ‘maintenance’ piece of health care, like the primary care doctor or gynecologist. But if your skin is very sun damaged, it’s often useful to have a once a year skin check with a dermatologist.”

Visit Radiation Oncology at St. Mary Medical Center for more information and to make an appointment.