by Gustavo Ramos
Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. According to the Utah County Health Department, every year skin cancer kills an average of 63 Utah residents. The health department, in partnership with the Utah Cancer Action Network, is committed to reducing the cancer burden through the implementation of the Utah Comprehensive Cancer Prevention and Control Plan.
“What we do is prevention, education, screenings and referrals,” said Sonia Dale, a registered nurse for the Utah County health department. “Then when you are talking about treatment, the health department does not do that, but we’re the first door to recognizing there could be a problem.”
People living in Utah are at a higher risk for skin cancer due to the state’s high elevation, predominantly fair-complexioned population and frequent sunny days, according to the department.
“We live in a place where we have sun a lot of days of the year,” said Jackie Evans-Black, UCHD Clinic bureau director. “Even in the winter, we have snow that reflects the sun. We snow ski, we have water sports, we have all kinds of activities out in the sun.”
Regardless of ethnicity or skin tone, too much exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays is bad for the skin and can lead to painful sunburns, wrinkling, sun spots and cancer.
Data from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention shows the overall U.S. melanoma rate is 17 per 100,000 persons, while Utah’s rate is 25 per 100,000. The American Cancer Society estimates that in Utah, 65 to 90 percent of melanoma cases are caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
“If you get a sun burn, even early on in your childhood, it can lead to melanoma later in your life, especially before [age] 18,” Evans-Black said.
While enjoying time outdoors during the summer, skin protection should be the priority. Unprotected skin can easily become damaged by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. It is not only important to protect skin in the summer, but every day of the year, especially during prime hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when UV rays are the strongest and do the most damage.
“We need to make sunscreen a part of our daily routines and combine it with at least one other sun protection measure for maximum effectiveness,” said Kaime James, a UCHD nurse who coordinates the Skin Cancer Prevention Program. “The new guidelines are saying that there really is no waterproof sunscreen … you need to reapply it every time you come out of the water.”
Skin cancer screening clinics are available at the health department at 151 S. University Ave., suite 1709 once or twice a month throughout the year. People can have all types of conditions checked by a doctor. The UCHD doctor will give recommendations for the next step if necessary. The clinic dates are posted on the website.
“People love to come here when we do screenings, it goes rather quickly,” James said. “We’re doing it by appointment but walk-ins are welcome.”
Lance D. Madigan, UCHD public information officer, invites the community to the free clinics.
“You only get one set of skin, so take care of it,” Madigan said.
For more information about free clinics and recommendations, visit the website utahcountyhealth.org or call 801-851-7083.
