May is National Skin Awareness Month, so ask yourself: How much do you really know about routine preventive cancer screenings? What risk factors should you be aware of? It’s important to explore the steps you can take in your everyday life to stay cancer-free.
The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 87,000 new cases of melanoma of the skin in 2017.
The good news is melanoma skin cancers may be prevented with regular screenings. Regular screenings increase the chances of detecting cancer early on, which can make the disease more likely to be treatable. You should regularly check your skin for skin cancer, preferably once a month.
It’s important to remember that cancer prevention goes beyond regular screenings. From making healthy choices to avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption to wearing sunscreen, there are many lifestyle changes we can make each day that may help lower our risk of melanoma and other cancers.
For more information about how you can be proactive when it comes to preventive care, consult our Preventive Guidelines chart.
Blue KC is committed to providing its members useful information about important and serious health conditions that can affect them and their loved ones. We believe that knowledge is power, and that an ounce of prevention leads to a lifetime of good health. To demonstrate this commitment, we’ve launched our Diseases & Conditions Spotlight series.
Through the Diseases & Conditions Spotlight series, we will provide information and resources related to a different disease or condition each month and highlight how we are working with providers and across networks to improve care in that space. Our hope is that you will learn something new and gain insight into how Blue KC can be an active partner for all of your health needs.