Fact or fiction? Test your skin cancer knowledge

A dermatologist and oncologist address common myths about your skin and the sun.

Our relationship with sunscreen has grown from the days of the Coppertone girl. Sun protection isn’t reserved for the beach anymore: It’s in your daily ChapStick, moisturizer and even your clothes.

But how well do you rank when it comes to skin cancer myths? May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. At Vanderbilt University Medical Center, we talked with oncologist Dr. Douglas Johnson and dermatology surgeon Dr. Allison Hanlon about some common skin cancer myths and facts.

Take our true/false quiz, then check below to find the answers and more details on the fact or myth, courtesy of Johnson and Hanlon.

1. 1. 1. Skin cancer only develops on parts of the body that have received too much sun.
         • True
         • False
      2. Putting on sunscreen as part of my morning routine is enough to protect me from skin cancer.
         • True
         • False
      3. My life doesn’t usually include outdoor activities, so I’m not at risk.
         • True
         • False
      4. Tans help shield the skin from damage, and dark-skinned people are not at risk for skin cancer.
         • True
         • False
      5. Skin checks should be self-administered, as well as done by a physician.
         • True
         • False
      6. Younger people don’t get skin cancer; it only develops in older age.
         • True
         • False
      7. I need to wear sunscreen even if it’s a cloudy day or winter. 
         • True
         • False
      8. Skin cancer is not fatal, so why worry about it or take preventive measures?
         • True
         • False

   Answers:

   1. 1. 1. False: Melanoma can develop in the back of the eye, the genital region and other areas that never receive sun exposure.
         2. False: While it’s smart to apply at least SPF 30 every morning on your face, neck and the back of your hands, putting on sunscreen correctly and reapplying frequently is crucial to protection. You should reapply every two hours and also be sensible about sun exposure, avoiding the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., if possible.
         3. False: Even if you are not routinely outdoors, you are exposed to UVB rays doing normal daily activities, such as walking to your car. UVA rays can penetrate window glass. It is always beneficial to have sunscreen coverage even if you aren’t playing outdoor sports or regularly spending time outside.
         4. False: A tan means the skin has been damaged, not that it has been protected. The tan itself is a sign that the damage has already occurred. Darker-skinned individuals can still develop skin cancer from ultraviolet light damage.
         5. True: By the time you see your physician, the area may already be cancerous. Regular skin checks, both done on your own and by a doctor, are the best way to catch a lesion early. Doing a self-exam of your skin every month and having a dermatologist do a skin check annually (or more frequently for higher-risk patients) will allow the identification of changing moles or lesions.
         6. False: Melanoma — the skin cancer with the most potential to be fatal — is the most common type of cancer in young adults aged 25-29 and the second most common in those aged 15-25, Johnson said. The two most common forms of skin cancer, basal and squamous cell carcinoma, are related to cumulative sun exposure; therefore, they occur more often in the elderly. They do, however, also occur in much younger patients. A young age does not protect you from getting skin cancer.
         7. True: While cloudy days and winter days may mean less overall UVA and UVB exposure than bright, sunny summer days, exposure is still occurring. Sunscreen is always recommended.

         8. False. Squamous and basal cell cancers usually do not spread or cause death. They should still be managed carefully, though, because if they are not treated they can spread. They can also spread in people with compromised immune systems (for example, those on certain medications or with organ transplants).
            However, melanoma spreads more aggressively. It can affect many of the body’s organs. If melanoma is not treated, it can cause death. The average survival time for untreated melanoma that has spread is less than one year, Johnson said.
            Preventing melanoma is an important part of protecting your health, and it is something to take seriously at any age.

    

No matter your age, sex or skin color, everyone is at risk for developing skin cancer.

Risk factors include:

• Sunlight exposure
• Blistering burns in childhood (even one can double the risk of melanoma)
• Indoor tanning beds
• Having greater than 50 moles