U.S. Surgeon General Releases Skin Cancer Warning: Opinion Piece from Richard Bezozo, M.D., President of MoleSafe

Skin cancer is a major health concern, with more new cases each year than the incidence of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined. In an effort to significantly reduce the incidence of skin cancer, the U.S. Surgeon General, Boris D. Lushniak, issued a skin cancer warning, and I'd like to express my full support in his call to action. Lushniak recognizes skin cancer and melanoma as a major public health concern and recognizes that it requires immediate attention.

Lushniak’s report urges Americans to take preventative steps such as wearing sunscreen and seeking share outdoors to reduce their risk of developing skin cancer, and it also calls on researchers and policymakers to play a leading role in turning back the tide of this extremely dangerous and deadly disease. The Surgeon General outlined several goals in the report that the U.S. Department of Health ad Human Services issued in an effort to help save lives. A major focus area is to strengthen research, surveillance, monitoring and evaluation related to skin cancer prevention.

Melanoma screening and surveillance programs exist with advanced programs combining total body photography, digital dermoscopy and sequential monitoring. Enrolling in an early detection program identifies melanomas and moles of concern quicker and more effectively than traditional naked eye exams and can help to catch melanoma at the earliest stage, when it’s the most curable.

Although melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer, it is also the most preventable. I strongly urge you to listen to the advice that the U.S. Surgeon General gives us, and take a lead in your skin care by taking measures to prevent yourself from developing skin cancer. I encourage you to wear a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every time you are outdoors during all seasons, avoid indoor tanning, and enroll in an early detection surveillance program so your skin can be monitored for suspicious changes over time.

With the Surgeon General’s leadership and support, perhaps we can finally take a stand against skin cancer and reduce the rates of skin cancer-related deaths that have been on the rise for the past several decades.

Richard C. Bezozo, M.D.

President, MoleSafe

www.MoleSafe.com

1-877-MOLESAFE