Taking a Proactive Stance with Your Health
- Actress Diane Keaton, 78, known for classic roles in films like “Annie Hall,” admits that for roughly two decades, skin cancer plagued her life. Once she reached her 40s, she started taking skincare and sunblock seriously to reduce her risk.
- The main types of skin cancer include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. In melanoma skin cancer cases, it is more likely to impact nearby tissue and spread or metastasize to other parts of the body.
- Dermatologist Dr. Cecilia Larocca recommends using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, which protects against UVB and UVA rays. Applying it every two hours also helps ensure adequate protection over time.
- Melanoma is most likely to develop on sun-exposed skin areas like the face, neck, arms, and legs. However, skin cancer can also develop on the palms of your hands, soles of your feet — and even in your eyes and mouth.
- The most important thing to look out for when finding skin cancer, including melanoma, is a new spot on your skin or a spot changing in size, shape, or color.
“I remember my auntie Martha had skin cancer so bad they removed her nose. My father had basal skin cancer, and my brother had it. It’s tricky with this skin cancer,” Keaton told The Los Angeles Times.
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Keaton is an Oscar-winning actress and was one of the hottest actresses during the 1980s. Her role in “Annie Hall” earned her an Oscar for the iconic hit. Since the 1977 movie, she continued to flex her acting chops throughout the 1980s with hits including “Reds,” where she portrayed Louise Bryant. She continued to appear in films during the ‘90s and 2000s through today. Offscreen, Keaton, who is a mother of two, dealt with skin cancer of her own.“It’s a family history,” she said, highlighting how skin cancer has impacted several members of her family.
She was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma when she was just 21. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer that is highly curable. It can cause a lump, bump, or lesion to form on the outside layer of your skin that is exposed to lots of sun.
Keaton also dealt with squamous cell carcinoma, which is another common type of skin cancer that is highly treatable if caught early.
“Back in my 20s, I didn’t pay much attention to protecting my skin. I didn’t research and didn’t really care, and that was stupid because it’s dogged me my entire adult life, even recently. I didn’t start sun care until my 40s,” Keaton admitted.
Helping You Navigate Skin Cancer and Prevention
Despite her initial dismissal of skin safety, she is now a staunch advocate of using sunblock to protect against harmful sun rays that contribute to skin cancer.
“You’ve got to put on the sunblock. That’s what I do; I just keep it in my pocket,” Keaton said.
Skin Cancer Can Occur Just About Anywhere
The main types of skin cancer include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
In melanoma skin cancer cases, it is more likely to impact nearby tissue and spread or metastasize to other parts of the body. Melanoma also causes the most skin cancer deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute. It starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. In melanoma, the cells change in a way that allows them to spread to other organs.
According to SurvivorNet’s experts, changes to a mole you’ve had for a while or a new growth on your skin could be signs of melanoma. You’ll want to watch for them and tell your doctor about any changes you notice.
You’re most likely to find melanoma on sun-exposed skin areas like your face, neck, arms, and legs. Surprisingly, you might also find them in other places as well, like:
- The palms of your hands or soles of your feet
- On your eyes or mouth
- Under your nails
SurvivorNet skin cancer experts recommend avoiding unprotected sun exposure because ultraviolet (UV) radiation can lead to melanoma. Tanning beds pose ultraviolet radiation risks for skin cancer and should be avoided. Many dermatologists recommend using spray tans to reduce the risk of melanoma skin cancer.
WATCH: Examining Your Skin for Skin Cancer.
SurvivorNet’s medical experts say the most important thing to look for when finding melanoma is a new spot on your skin or a spot changing in size, shape, or color.
When you check your skin, use the acronym ABCDE as your guide. Look for:
- Asymmetrical moles: If you drew a line straight down the center of the mole, would the sides match?
- Borders: Is the mole irregular or jagged?
- Colors: Are there multiple distinct colors in the mole?
- Diameter: Is the mole larger than 6 millimeters (mm), about the size of a pencil head eraser?
- Evolution: Has the mole’s color, shape, or size changed over time?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, our experts say it’s time to see your dermatologist for a skin check.
How to Protect Against Skin Cancer
Wearing sunscreen helps protect your skin from harmful sun rays that can cause skin cancer. Apply a generous amount of broad-spectrum sunscreen every two hours and wear sun-protective clothing, including hats and sunglasses, when possible.
WATCH: Choosing the right sunscreen.
“When it comes to melanoma, if you use sunscreen, there is this great study that came out of Australia that showed that if patients used sunscreen consistently over a period of 10 years, they were actually able to reduce their risk for melanoma by 50%,” dermatologist Dr. Cecilia Larocca tells SurvivorNet.
Many types of sunscreens are on the market, and choosing the right one could be confusing. However, experts tell SurvivorNet that the best type of sunscreen depends on your plans outdoors.
Dr. Snehal Amin, a dermatologist in Manhattan, further explains this point.
Are you looking for a great sunscreen for kids? “When using sunscreens on my younger kids, I recommend Neutrogena free and clear stick—which is zinc and titanium-based,” Dr. Amin said.
Do you play outdoor or water sports? “I make sure that I use a sports-based sunscreen. There are a lot of sports-based sunscreens … They all are very greasy, and they stay on the skin even during water activities,” Dr. Amin said. He recommended the brand SkinCeuticals.
WATCH: Why You Should Avoid Tanning Beds.
How else can I protect my skin? Sunscreen isn’t the only option for protecting your skin from the sun—you can also wear SPF-proof clothing. “Rather than slathering a gallon of sunscreen onto your skin and then going for a dip … it probably makes sense to wear a long-sleeved surf shirt, as well as certain other types of sunscreens, which are more inert to protect the environment.”
Dr. Larocca recommends using sunscreen with no less than SPF 30, which protects against UVB and UVA rays.
According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, you should:
- Avoid sun exposure during peak hours when the sun’s rays are strongest, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going outside.
- Use at least SPF 30 broad spectrum sunblock and reapply every 2 hours when outdoors.
Questions to Ask Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with melanoma or some other type of skin cancer, here are some questions you may consider asking your doctor to help understand your situation:
- Has my skin cancer spread to different parts of the body, or is it localized?
- What are my treatment options?
- Will there be side effects associated with my treatment?
- What types of financial and emotional support will be available to me as I begin my cancer journey?
- How long do you expect my treatments to last?
- Will I be able to work and continue my daily activities during treatment?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
