June is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and Concentra is joining this important effort by helping educate people to take steps to prevent skin damage and recognize potential skin cancer. Early identification and treatment of skin cancer helps reduce the risk of advanced disease and complications and, in some cases, may result in cure.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than one million new skin cancers are diagnosed each year – that’s more than all the new annual cases of breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer combined. About 20% of Americans will develop skin cancer at some point during their lifetimes, so it’s important to know what to look for:

• Moles with any of the following characteristics:
• Irregular borders
• Asymmetric shapes
• Variable colors
• Grow bigger than a pencil eraser
• Sores that bleed and do not heal, or are itchy or painful
• Red patches, lumps, or new moles

If you have any of these conditions, you can have your skin examined by your physician, who may recommend you to a dermatologist, which is a physician who specializes in treating the skin.

As with any potential cancer, it’s important to know what you can do to reduce your chances of developing it. In the case of skin cancer, protecting yourself from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays is recommended as your best protection. So Concentra has created a flyer on sun safety that will give you tips on avoiding sunburn, protecting your skin, and helping prevent skin cancer. For more information on skin cancer, ask your physician or visit The Skin Cancer Foundation.