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Slide 1: Wine & All That Jazz May is Melanoma Month! Yo Living in the Sunshine CONNEur State is a beautiful thing. to good CTION And although we relish health! in the warmth of the sun year ‘round, we must be mindful of the harmful effects of the sun’s rays on our skin. Many of you may not know about a type of skin cancer called Melanoma! Test your knowledge and gain valuable insights for your health and those you love: TRUTHS ABOUT MELANOMA: 1. When detected early, Melanoma has an excellent cure rate. 2. The most common location for Melanoma to be found on the body in women is on the legs, and for men it is on the back. 3. A changing lesion should be examined and evaluated by a dermatologist. One of the key educational tools used to train physicians, medical personnel and the general public on how to recognize early melanomas is the ABCDEs of Melanoma Detection. The A stands for Asymmetry; (one half of the sight is unlike the other half;) The B stands for Border, (the border of the sight is irregular in shape, scalloped or poorly defined;), The C stands for Color (The color varies from one area to another and may appear in shades of tan and brown, black; sometimes white, red or blue;)The D stands for Diameter (the size of a pencil eraser or larger.) The American Academy of Dermatology recently added E for Evolving, referring to change in size, shape or color. To summarize, a dermatologist should evaluate anything you notice on your skin that is new or changing. 4. One of the best ways to prevent Melanoma is to practice good ultraviolet light protection, especially if you have fair skin, light eyes and light hair. Facts about skin cancer prevention: use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30, reapply every 90 minutes, wear protective clothing such as a long sleeved shirt, wide brimmed hat and sunglasses. 5. Often, melanomas do not exhibit all the ABCDEs. Anything that stands out as unusual should be checked. We call this the “ugly duckling” sign. This is helpful especially if you have a lot of moles and freckles. We recommend selfskin exams every couple months. In keeping with the duck theme, a familiar adage could be a life saver: "If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck…" In other words, check it out if you have the least bit of concern! Marta I. Rendon, M.D. & Chere Lucas Anthony, M.D. Rendon Center for Dermatology & Aesthetic Medicine, 880 N.W. 13 Street, Suite 3C, Galen Medical Building, Boca Raton, Florida, 561-750-0544, www.drrendon.com. Part of the Boca Festival Days 2011 Celebration Boca Raton Resort & Club August 27 th www.bocaratonchamber.com Boca Chamber CONNECTION ■ May - July 2011 ■ 15