Melanie's Cancer Scare
- Actress Melanie Griffith flaunted her figure on Instagram for a good cause, posing in a pink bikini in support of breast cancer awareness.
- Griffith, 65, is a two-time survivor of skin cancer.
- Dermatologists recommend skin cancer prevention through the use of sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher), covering your face, and avoiding the sun during peak hours.
She wrote in her post: I'm joining @kitundergarments in wearing pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. I'm wearing the Classic Demi Bra in Rose…If you can repost they will donate another $1!! …And btw they are super sexy and oh so comfy♥ï¸â™¥ï¸â™¥ï¸”
View this post on InstagramRead More Other celebs recently supported the mission of Kit, including January Jones and Zoe Saldana. Kit donates five percent of every sale to the Women's Cancer Research Fund for Breast Cancer Awareness month.Griffith’s Skin Cancer Diagnosis
Melanie Griffith had surgery in 2009 to remove the early stages of skin cancer on her face. She was diagnosed with Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), which is the most common type of skin cancer.
In 2017, her skin cancer returned and she again sought treatment and used the opportunity to urge people to take care of their skin as well. Other major stars who are skin cancer survivors, like Diane Keaton, have also been outspoken advocates on preventing skin cancer.
One way to avoid skin cancer is by using sunscreen daily. Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a dermatologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, tells SurvivorNet that, “When it comes to sunscreenwhich is one of the most important things you can do to minimize your risk for melanoma and other skin cancerswe recommend a minimum of SPF 30.”
Dr. Larocca enlightened us about “the truth about sunscreen,” and the importance of looking at the label on the bottle you buy. “The truth is that when you put on sunscreen, most of us don’t even put on enough sunscreen to actually get the true SPF that’s listed on the label. In general, we actually only put on 50% of what our SPF is.”
“So if you put on an SPF 60,” Dr. Larocca said, “you’re likely to get an SPF 30 effect. Regardless, even with that information, we recommend a minimum of SPF 30. The other important thing to look for when it comes to sunscreen is whether or not it’s broad spectrum. So broad spectrum means it covers both UVB and UVA rays. Thankfully, those are FDA regulated terms.”
Choose the Right Sunscreen and Use it Often
Protecting Your Skin From Cancer
Griffith has been active advocate for good preventative skin care. In 2018, she urged her followers to be careful, use sunscreen, and get checked out by a dermatologist (and to get one if you don’t already have one. The cancer survivor wrote:
“Bandaged again after having dermabrasion, the final step to fix the now removed basil cell skin cancer. If any of you have it, get it fixed. If you lay in the sun, are exposed to lots of sun, be CAREFUL. Use sun screen. Get checked out by your Dermatolgist. If you don't have one, get one, or go to your nearest clinic and ask to be tested for it. More info to come!”
She was spot-on about sunscreen, exercising caution with sun, and the importance of getting checked out by a dermatologist. There are some easy and effective ways to protect your skin from cancer. Dr. Dendy Engelman tells SurvivorNet that people should:
- Avoid sun during peak hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
- Cover your skin and eyes
- Wear an SPF of 30 or higher
- Get an annual skin check
- Avoid tanning beds
So, next time you’re out in the sun, be sure to take great care of the largest organ your body has your skin!
Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer
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