Archbold Medical Center| Archives Magazine | Spring 2015

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ARCHBOLD.ORG • SPRING 2015 15
Need more reasons to quit that habit? Check out
to find out what happens just 20 minutes—or 12 hours
or 10 years—after your last cigarette.
Mark Brewer, MD
Internal medicine physician
Cheryl Barnes, MD
Dermatologist
McIntosh Clinic
my risk of cancer?
The dermatologist says:
Practice sun safety
Simply put, too much sun can cause
skin cancer.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the
sun can permanently damage the cells
of your skin. (A tan is actually a sign of
damaged skin.) This may trigger wrin-
kles; dark spots; or dry, leathery skin.
“Of course, the biggest threat from
too much UV exposure is skin cancer,”
said dermatologist Cheryl Barnes, MD.
“Time spent sunbathing or in tanning
beds raises the risk of deadly mela-
noma, as well as non-melanoma skin
cancers.”
And while many people believe
that skin cancer can take decades to
develop, melanoma is the second
most common cancer in women 20 to
29 years old.
But Dr. Barnes said there are plenty
of ways to help protect your skin.
“You should apply sunscreen before
you go outside, even on cloudy days,”
she said. “Use a broad-spectrum, water-
resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30
or higher. Also seek shade whenever
you can. Try taking an umbrella or tent
with you when you know you’re going
to be outdoors for an extended period
of time.”
Dr. Barnes also recommends con-
tacting your doctor if you notice any
changes in your skin.
The internist says: Still smoking? Stop!
True, it can be hard to quit. But it’s
worth the effort.
In fact, it’s perhaps the most im-
portant thing you can do to prevent
cancer—and not only lung cancer.
“Smoking also contributes to many
other cancers, including those of the
mouth, throat, liver, stomach, kid-
neys and bone marrow,” said internal
medicine physician Mark Brewer, MD.
“If you quit before age 40, you may
actually lower your risk for premature
death. But even stopping at a later age,
you can still gain back some years to
life.”
Need help quitting for good? Ask
your doctor about strategies proven to
help.