Jul 11, 2008 6:04 pm US/Central
Melanoma Cases Skyrocket Among Young Women
New Study Identifies Young Women As Most Susceptible To Deadliest Form Of Skin Cancer
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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A doctor checks a woman for signs of skin cancer. (File)
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Alarming new statistics were released Friday about a deadly form of skin cancer. And the news about malignant melanoma is especially bad for young women, CBS station WCBS-TV in New York City reports.
On a beautiful, sunny day like Friday, Central Park was filled with sun bathers, even though they knew it might not be the best thing for their skin.
"I'm usually really pale during the year but in the summer I come to Central Park like, maybe two or three times a week," Ruth Levy said. "Yeah, it's a scary thought, the idea that me lying out could give me cancer."
In fact, all that sun is taking a serious toll among young women. A new study finds cases of malignant melanoma -- the deadliest form of skin cancer -- have risen significantly.
"It shows that they're getting the bad kind of melanoma and they're getting melanoma in general at a higher rate," said Dr. Anna Pavlick of the NYU Cancer Center.
Researchers writing in The Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that from 1980-2004, melanoma cases in young women age 15-39 jumped 50 percent, while in the same period melanoma cases in young men showed no increase.
While the study did not address reasons for the jump, many experts believe today's young women are tanning more than men, both outdoors and indoors.
"I do believe that tanning salons and tanning beds do have an important role in the cause of melanoma, and one day we'll be able to point out to the exact mechanism, but there is a role there, and the more we can get the message out that tanning salons are not safe, that's not the way to get color in your skin," Dr. Doris Day said.
After getting a bad burn as a teenager, Ann Oman has fought melanoma three times with multiple surgeries.
"Behind my ear, all the way down and then there is scarring that goes all the way through here," Oman said, demonstrating the extent of her surgeries.
"It's not worth it. It really isn't."
The best way to avoid becoming one of those statistics is to avoid tanning beds at all costs.
In addition, use sunscreen early and often. Reapply it every couple of hours and make sure you use at least SPF 15.
However, it's important to point out that many people get a false sense of security from sunscreen and think they can stay out all day. This is not the case.
If you want to look tanned, today's self-tanning lotions are safe and look very natural.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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