St. Mary's Parish Nurse Ministry Program
Ruth E. Williams, RN, MEPD, MSN

Dear Viewers, Peace to all in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Hope all had a grace filled Easter. This month Mother's Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day Aids Day, and American Stroke, Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month is observed. Proverbs 12:1 states, "He who loves correction, loves knowledge. but he who hates reproof is stupid."

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Let's review some information about melanomas. Some causes are:spending too much time in the sun; melanomas have a tendency to run in families who have atypical moles. These moles don't cause cancer by themselves, but having many of them may be a sign that melanomas run in your family. See your Health Care Provider. Melanomas can be found any place on the body. They can be found on the upper back in men and women and on the legs of women. Examine moles or other skin growths such as a birth mark as they can grow in moles and birthmarks. They look like a flat, black or brown mole that is uneven. They are irregular or asymmetrical in appearance. Have your Health Care Provider examine your skin regularly. Some prevention things a person can do is: stay out of the sun during the intense time of the day between 10am and 4pm. Exposure to the Ultra Violet(UV) rays is more directly above at this time. The UV rays cause damage to the DNA of the melanocytes. Exposure to the sun is the one factor that a person has control over. Also, wear long sleeves and long pants to cover the skin in those areas. Another factor is the exposure of the body to UV radiation when using tanning booths, which appears to increase the risk of melanomas.(www.webmd.com) The MD Anderson Cancer Clinic in Texas advises parents teaching good healthily habits to their children when enjoying the sun such as, using SpF. The most common ages for melanoma to occur is between 15-29 years old and the 2nd most common cancer. Also, just walking to your car helps with absorbing Vitamin D from the sun. Some studies indicate using tanning beds has an eight fold risk of developing melanomas. So, having a nice tan demands much thought and discipline to help prevent melanomas and skin cancer. Have a safe summer and Memorial Weekend. "For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to man who is good in his sight. " Ecclesiastes 2:26 My book, A COLLECTION OF PARISH NURSE NEWSLETTERS is available at www.dorrancebookstore.com; amazon.com; Eden Book Store (1-877-627-5653) toll free. Ocooch Book Store (1-608-647-8826).