Melanoma: Be Aware The human body is a very complex system that often malfunctions. Many people believe that numerous diseases are natural reflections of the body aging and cannot be avoided. Fortunately, for us, that is not always true. The goal of my paper is to change this perception and demonstrate that healthy eating and an active lifestyle can result in a healthy body, at any age. Skin, which is the largest organ in the body and part of the Integumentary System, functions as a natural coating. It protects our bodies from environmental hazards; such as UV rays, regulates our body temperature, and provides sensation that detects stimuli related to temperature, touch, pain, and pressure (CliniMed 2014). However, no one is invincible.
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Melanoma is a very rare, dangerous skin cancer where development of a tumor starts in the melanocytes and appears to be a typical mole, but oftentimes leads to death. Melanomas can emerge anytime and anywhere on the surface of the skin. Everyone is at risk, even though having dark skin pigment lowers the chances of obtaining this skin disease (ACS 2015). The main cause of this skin cancer is intense exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, but it can also be contracted by radiation treatments. Because anyone can get melanoma, it is very important to know the symptoms and how to check the body for them. Make sure to look for every mole or spot on your body and make sure it is not deformed or discolored. Usually in the early stages of Melanoma, there are little to no symptoms that one can feel. However if there are symptoms present, examples would be itching, bleeding, and elevated pains (AAD 2015). The possible outcomes from these symptoms can be severe and if not treated immediately, death will occur. The older you are when diagnosed with Melanoma, the shorter your survival rate (ACS …show more content…
Avoid too much contact with the sun and wear sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher. It is important to continuously reapply the sunscreen at least once every two hours, stay in the shade, and avoid midday sun (SC&C 2013). Another way to prevent it is avoid using tanning beds because those ultraviolet rays can also cause melanoma. Michelle Ferguson, Physician, once said, “Pale is the new tan” (SC&S 2013). Now that pale is the new tan and limiting our sun exposure can reduce the risk of being diagnosed with melanoma, healthy nutrition also plays a vital role as well (R.D. Collins 2015). If you have not already, add to your diet vegetables, fish, herbs, tea, and even a bottle of wine. According to Karen Collins, RD, clinical dietitian and nutrition adviser for the American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C., not just one of these nutritional food/drink antioxidants will fight against cancer, but the combination of them all will do you justice (AICR
Melanoma is a very rare, dangerous skin cancer where development of a tumor starts in the melanocytes and appears to be a typical mole, but oftentimes leads to death. Melanomas can emerge anytime and anywhere on the surface of the skin. Everyone is at risk, even though having dark skin pigment lowers the chances of obtaining this skin disease (ACS 2015). The main cause of this skin cancer is intense exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, but it can also be contracted by radiation treatments. Because anyone can get melanoma, it is very important to know the symptoms and how to check the body for them. Make sure to look for every mole or spot on your body and make sure it is not deformed or discolored. Usually in the early stages of Melanoma, there are little to no symptoms that one can feel. However if there are symptoms present, examples would be itching, bleeding, and elevated pains (AAD 2015). The possible outcomes from these symptoms can be severe and if not treated immediately, death will occur. The older you are when diagnosed with Melanoma, the shorter your survival rate (ACS …show more content…
Avoid too much contact with the sun and wear sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher. It is important to continuously reapply the sunscreen at least once every two hours, stay in the shade, and avoid midday sun (SC&C 2013). Another way to prevent it is avoid using tanning beds because those ultraviolet rays can also cause melanoma. Michelle Ferguson, Physician, once said, “Pale is the new tan” (SC&S 2013). Now that pale is the new tan and limiting our sun exposure can reduce the risk of being diagnosed with melanoma, healthy nutrition also plays a vital role as well (R.D. Collins 2015). If you have not already, add to your diet vegetables, fish, herbs, tea, and even a bottle of wine. According to Karen Collins, RD, clinical dietitian and nutrition adviser for the American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C., not just one of these nutritional food/drink antioxidants will fight against cancer, but the combination of them all will do you justice (AICR