Health Promotion and Disease Prevention of Skin Cancer
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer Case Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Background I evaluated Ms. Morton, a 35-year-old female patient who had a flat lesion on her shoulder with a scaly, crusty surface. The lesion was subjected to an excisional biopsy, and the results showed that it was a squamous cell skin carcinoma.
Factors at Risk for Getting Skin Cancer
For Ms. Morton, health promotion will mean talking about the different things that might have increased her risk of getting skin cancer, with UV exposure being the main contributor. UV rays can be exposed through medical UV therapy, tanning beds, and prolonged lifetime sun exposure (Thompson et al., 2016). The immune system of the skin has been discovered to be compromised by UV radiation, increasing the likelihood of skin tumor development (Hoel, Berwick, de Gruijl, & Holick, 2016). Additionally, having a fair complexion may have increased her likelihood of developing skin cancer since those with gray, hazel, or blue eyes, blond or red hair, and those who are prone to skin burns are more likely to have these features (Thompson et al., 2016). A weakened immune system, such as that experienced by those with HIV, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, exposure to chemical pollutants, and genetic variables are further hazards that will be covered.
I will inform the patient about certain precautions she should take to lower her risk of having skin cancer. Avoiding unnecessary and
excessive sun exposure is the first step, especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when UV rays are at their strongest (Hoel et al., 2016). Second, I’ll tell her to use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to help shield her skin from UV rays (Waldman & Grant-Kels, 2019). She should get a lip balm with the highest SPF and a sunscreen that offers UVA and UVB protection. She should also use a water-resistant sunscreen after swimming, when she is perspiring a lot, and when exposed to strong sunlight. She should also reapply sunscreen every two hours (Waldman & Grant-Kels, 2019). I’ll also give her advice on how to dress protectively, including long sleeves and hats made of cotton or another material that is absorbent.
Educational Resources
I read a 2019 instructional leaflet on skin cancer prevention and detection by Waldman and Grant-Kels from the American Academy of Dermatology. The text has an average reading level, a readability score of 8, and may be understood by people as young as 11 years old. I would advise the patient to use the information to help her learn how to avoid getting skin cancer and how to check oneself for the condition. The brochure also includes visual assistance in the form of pictures that show how to evaluate a mole or lesion as well as the many forms of skin malignancies.
References
Holick, M. F., de Gruijl, F. R., Berwick, M., and Hoel, D. G. (2016). The benefits and hazards of sun exposure in 2016. e1248325. Dermato-Endocrinology, 8(1).
A. K. Thompson, B. F. Kelley, L. J. Prokop, M. H. Murad, and C. L. Baum (2016). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the risk variables for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma recurrence, metastasis, and disease-specific death. 152(4) of JAMA Dermatology, 419-428.
R. A. Waldman, J. M. Grant-Kels (2019). the part sunscreen plays in preventing skin cancer, including melanoma and nonmelanoma. American Academy of Dermatology Journal, 80(2), 574-576.