June 27, 2024
CHICAGO鈥 Skin cancer is by far the diagnosed cancer, affecting an estimated , but it is also one of the most preventable types of cancer.听
鈥淭he vast majority of skin cancers are caused by sun exposure throughout our lives,鈥 said , a surgical oncologist and 麻豆传媒 Commission on Cancer (CoC) State Chair for Metropolitan Philadelphia. 鈥淲hen it comes to skin cancer, prevention is key. My goal is to ensure patients can enjoy their lives, including time in the sun, while being mindful that even a small skin lesion can quickly escalate into a very serious issue.鈥澨
According to Dr. Farma, who chairs the department of surgery at in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is surgical director of their Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program, it鈥檚 important to remember that anyone can get skin cancer, even if you don鈥檛 burn easily, and the disease is commonly diagnosed in both older and younger populations.听听
In fact, in adults 55 and older, rates of melanoma have increased by about 7% every year since 2011, and skin cancer rates have remained steady each year in younger people, according to the National Cancer Database, a clinical oncology database jointly run by the CoC and American Cancer Society.* While highly preventable, melanoma is .听
鈥淲e have seen young patients in their 20s who tan a lot and use tanning salons and are unfortunately diagnosed with skin cancer,鈥 Dr. Farma said. 鈥淭hat diagnosis can completely change their life.鈥澨
Dr. Farma offers these three tips to protect yourself while enjoying time outdoors:
For people diagnosed with skin cancer, treatment will depend on the type of skin cancer diagnosed. Basal and squamous cell skin cancers can often be treated through non-invasive methods such as local excision or , whereas melanoma, which arises from the melanoma cells of the body that give skin its pigmentation, or other rarer types of skin cancer, may require more extensive surgery and an interdisciplinary team approach if the cancer has spread. Dr. Farma stresses that surgeons play an integral role in treating skin cancer, and many new therapies, such as immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and newer adoptive cellular therapy, are allowing patients to have improved outcomes.听
鈥淭he surgeon really is a critical team member involved in the whole continuum of treatment for skin cancer, from education and screening,鈥 he said. 鈥淎s surgeons, we鈥檙e actively working together to limit the amount of side effects for patients and help them improve their outcomes and survival so they can get back to living their life.鈥澨
Journalists may contact pressinquiry@facs.org to schedule an interview with Dr. Farma.听
*The National Cancer Database (NCDB) is jointly operated by the CoC and the American Cancer Society and captures approximately 74% of all cancer cases diagnosed in the United States. Since melanoma is often diagnosed in the outpatient setting, the NCDB captures about 52% of melanoma cancers diagnosed at CoC-accredited facilities.听
The 麻豆传媒 is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has approximately 90,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the 麻豆传媒.