Protecting Yourself From Harmful Sun Rays and Skin Cancer
- Harry Jowsey, who rose to fame on the British dating game show “Too Hot To Handle” and was featured as a celeb on the U.S. version of “Dancing With The Stars” has shared a reminder to fans to “please wear sunscreen,” after learning he had skin cancer.
- Jowsey hasn’t revealed what type of skin cancer he had or what his treatment plan was, but he said a mark on his shoulder turned out to be cancerous. Months after he learned the spot on his skin was cancerous, another skin cancer mark “popped up.” He also noted that while undergoing surgery to get the cancer removed, a third spot was found.
- All skin types can suffer from the sun, but there are certain risk factors that could increase your chance of getting skin cancer, such as early exposure to the sun, having more than 50 moles on your body, and a personal or family history of skin cancer.
- Make sure to get your skin checked annually with a dermatologist, who may advise you to come in more frequently depending on your risk level — and in between those visits, doing regular self-checks on your own skin is also important to look for anything suspicious that may have popped up, especially if a mark has changed in a short amount of time.
The 27-year-old reality star, who also was featured as a celebrity from Season 32 of “Dancing with the Stars” in the U.S., took to social media to announce his cancer diagnosis and helped others remain vigilant when it comes to skin cancer.
Read More@harryjowsey Please wear sunscreen ☀️
“I’m going to be all good, everything’s going to be OK. I just wanted to make this post to let you know that summer’s going to be around the corner. Please wear sunscreen,” Jowsey continued.
“Please wear it. Please go and get your skin checked. If you’re freckly little frog like me, go get a mole map and get your body checked because you never know.”
He then explained how he’s had something on his shoulder for approximately one year or two, but had “no idea,” adding, “So I just wanna save and protect all of you guys out there.”
Helping You Navigate Skin Cancer and Prevention
- 3 Skin Cancer Myths, Busted: Can One Bad Sun Burn Cause Cancer?
- Cancer-Causing Chemical Found in Banana Boat Sunscreen Leads to Recall; How to Select the Right Sunscreen for Your Skin
- Yes, People Of Color Get Skin Cancer, And It Can Be Deadlier: These Sunscreens Are Made Specifically For Darker Skin Tones
- Examining Your Skin for Melanoma: Remember ABCDE
- Treatment For Basal Cell Carcinoma: Mohs Surgery Removes This Skin Cancer With Smaller Incisions and More Certainty
Jowsey concluded, “So go get your skin checked, wear your sunscreen and a be a little bit more responsible because that’s what I’ve got to do now, and it’s very scary.”
Months after his initial announcement in April, he revealed in another video that he had “a little more” skin cancer that “popped up” on his shoulder.
His followup post, shared in August, prompted fans to wish him the best, with one commenting, “Safe healing Harry, sending you hugs and best wishes.”
Then, in September, he informed his fans in another video clip that he got his skin cancer “cut out.”
He also revealed that a “third” cancerous spot was found when he was undergoing surgery.
Although Jowsey didn’t specify what type of skin cancer he was diagnosed with, or what his treatment plan would be, we admire his courage and ability to share such a personal matter with his fan base.
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Understanding Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells. This growth usually happens when un-repaired DNA damage prompts mutations, or genetic defects, that lead the skin cells to multiply fast and form malignant tumors. Although this may sound scary, education is the first step to prevention, and you’re taking that step right now.
Skin cancers are majorly categorized into three types:
- Melanoma: Though less common, it’s the deadliest of them all.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): Quite common and has the ability to spread distantly if not treated. The vast majority are low risk but some can be aggressive and require multiple treatment.
- Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): The most common type, but luckily the least likely to spread.
Another skin cancer that is much less common, but worth mentioning is Merkel Cell Carcinoma, which is rare and mostly occurs in older adults (average age 74-76). It can be aggressive locally and spread distantly.
For most skin cancers you can take steps to reduce your risk and prevent hem. Prevention as well as early detection and treatment are your best chances at a good outcome.
Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer:
Recognizing the Early Signs
Let’s talk about the first signs of skin cancer. Your skin is your body’s largest organ, so paying attention to changes is vital. Essentially, skin cancer shows up as a persistent change in your sample of skin. The changes may vary according to the type of skin cancer, but here are some general things to look out for:
- New growths: Any new growth or sore that doesn’t heal should be an alarm for you. Even a small change is worth having a look at.
- Changes in existing moles: Moles are usual suspects in skin cancer cases. Watch out for moles that start to evolve or change in color, size, or shape. Or if the moles like different from other spots on your skin this can also be a sign to get checked by a health care professional.
- Itchy or painful lesions: Skin areas that are constantly itchy, hurting, scaly, or bleeding could be early signs of skin cancer.
- Spots with irregular borders: If you see spots with uneven borders or color, take note.
- Unusual size or shape: Any spot greater than 6 millimeters (roughly the size of a pencil eraser) is suspicious. Also, be mindful of any sore that doesn’t heal.
Remember, you know your body best. If you notice something out of the ordinary, don’t shrug it off – get it checked out. The early detection of skin cancer significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. Plus, it’s always better to be on the safe side.
Also, don’t forget – although we’ve listed some common signs, skin cancer can sometimes behave differently. If something feels off, trust your instincts and consult your doctor. A regular skin examination by a dermatologist can also be a great step towards prevention.
Five Ways to Protect Yourself From Skin Cancer
Skin cancer can happen to anyone and develop at any time of year. It tends to occur on parts of the body that see more sun like the face, head, neck and arms, but it can also develop anywhere, including places like the bottoms of your feet, your genitals and the inside of your mouth.
If you’re wanting to minimize your risk of developing skin cancer, check out these tips from Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board certified dermatologic surgeon at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue
RELATED: Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer
- Avoid sun during peak hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect the tops of our heads, the tops of our ears and the delicate area around the eye.
- Wear at least SPF 30 sunscreen and make sure to reapply every two hours or after excessive sweating or swimming.
- Have yearly skin checks (with a professional) because it’s difficult to evaluate areas all over the body.
- Avoid tanning beds. There are no “good” tanning beds, and they can significantly increase your risk of skin cancer.
In addition, make sure to prioritize skin protection all year round. People often focus on things like sunscreen use solely in the summer, but our experts know skin damage can happen at any time of the year.
Which Sunscreen Should I Choose To Prevent Cancer?
“My patients ask me all the time, ‘Do I really need sunscreen every day, all year round?’ The answer is yes,” Dr. Engelman told SurvivorNet.
“People think they only need sun protection when they’re in the bright, warm sunshine. But the reality is, we can get sun damage at any time throughout the year, even in the cold, wintry months. Think about when you go skiing. That’s a very high risk. Even though it’s cold, our skin should be protected.”
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, you may have some questions for your doctor. SurvivorNet suggests some of the following to help you on your cancer journey.
- What type of skin cancer do I have?
- What treatment options exist for this type of cancer?
- Will insurance cover this treatment?
- Would treatment through a clinical trial make sense to me?
- What resources exist to help manage my anxiety because of this diagnosis?
Leading Experts Urge Us to Be Proactive
“If I had any advice for you following a cancer diagnosis, it would be, first, to seek out multiple opinions as to the best care,” National Cancer Institute Chief of Surgery Steven Rosenberg told us in a previous interview, “because finding a doctor who is up to the latest of information is important.”
As we highlight in several areas of SurvivorNet, highly respected doctors sometimes disagree on the right course of treatment, and advances in genetics and immunotherapy are creating new options. Also, in some instances the specific course of treatment is not clear cut. That’s even more reason why understanding the potential approaches to your disease is crucial.
At the National Cancer Institute, there is a patient referral service that will “guide patients to the right group depending on their disease state so that they can gain access to these new experimental treatments,” Rosenberg says.
Cancer Research Legend Urges Patients to Get Multiple Opinions
Furthermore, getting another opinion may also help you avoid doctor biases. For example, some surgeons own radiation treatment centers. “So there may be a conflict of interest if you present to a surgeon that is recommending radiation because there is some ownership of that type of facility,” Dr. Jim Hu, director of robotic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center, tells SurvivorNet.
Other reasons to get a second opinion include:
- To see a doctor who has more experience treating your type of cancer
- You have a rare type of cancer
- There are several ways to treat your cancer
- You feel like your doctor isn’t listening to you, or isn’t giving you good advice
- You have trouble understanding your doctor
- You don’t like the treatment your doctor is recommending, or you’re worried about its possible side effects
- Your insurance company wants you to get another medical opinion
- Your cancer isn’t improving on your current treatment
RELATED: Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate, Says Leading Expert
Bottom line, being proactive about your health could be a matter of life or death. Learn as much as you can from as many experts as you can, so that you know that you did your best to take control of your health.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
