simone
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Joined: 23 Jul 2005
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 Posted: 08/10/05 - 07:45 Post subject: Milder skin cancers becoming more common among young |
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The scientist did a study only on basal and squamous cell carcinomas, cancers that are almost always curable and that together afflict 1 million Americans a year. The cancers, caused largely by overexposure to ultraviolet light from the sun, usually develop in older people who have spent many years outdoors. But the research shows that more and more young people appear to be developing the most common types of skin cancer.
Since the late seventies the combined rate of the two diseases grew from 19 cases per 100,000 people to 33 per 100,000 — a 74% increase.
Researches have also found that cancer started to develop on other parts of the body besides the typical head and neck area. This change is probably caused by the effect of excessive sunbathing.
Regardless the increase of the number of people infected, the number of young people with skin cancer is still incredibly small.
One of the reasons why the rates of melanoma, a potentially deadly skin cancer, are rising could be that doctors are screening more people for skin cancer, not because the disease is becoming more common.
In the end, researches believe that tanning probably plays the most important role in the increasing number of young people being affected by the skin cancers.
Media here could play an important role in decreasing numerous commercials about beautiful tanned skin and try to educate people of the danger of the UV rays!!! |
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