While cancer is not usually associated with college students, information on the relationship between skin cancer and young people suggests that perhaps when students head off to class, they should do so covered with a layer of sunscreen.
Although cancer in college students is less common than the cancer rates for the entire population, there are specific types of skin cancer of which young adults should be aware, said Lee Cranmer, an oncologist at the Arizona Cancer Center.
The most prevalent skin cancer among young people is melanoma. Its presence in college students is due, in large part, to extensive sun exposure, Cranmer said.
One approach to decreasing the risk of melanoma is to avoid constant contact with direct sun. For those living and going to school in Arizona and the Southwest, such a strategy is easier said than done, he said.
“”We are living in a melanoma hot spot,”” Cranmer said. “”Because of the sun exposure here, people need to be extra careful.””
Before students take steps toward protecting themselves, they must first take the consequences of unprotected sun exposure seriously, said Lauren Burke, a business sophomore.
“”I think people are aware, for the most part,”” she said. “”They might not be that concerned, though.””
The concern for many students is instead on any possible immediate cosmetic or physical harm, Burke said.
“”When you’re out in the sun, you’re worrying about getting sunburned,”” she said. “”You’re not worrying about skin cancer.””
Although Arizona is a prime state for melanoma resulting from sun exposure, many young people do not bother to protect their skin on a day-to-day basis.
When students are participating in activities that involve long hours in the sun is when young people take measures to protect their skin, said Scott Morton, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry and molecular biophysics.
“”I really don’t worry about (melanoma) when I’m just walking around,”” he said. “”If I’m out boating or something, I’ll use sunscreen.””
Sunscreen can be an ally for students against melanoma and other types of skin cancer because it reflects ultraviolet radiation from the skin. UV radiation exposure is the primary cause of melanoma, Cranmer said.
The lack of concern by some students about the risk of melanoma is reflective of an apathetic attitude, a dangerous outlook to have against skin cancers, said Justin Howes, a junior majoring in Spanish.
“”People don’t think it’s something that affects them,”” he said. “”They think that if they aren’t sunburned, there’s no problem.””
Although the dangers of cancer loom over society on television and in the media, living in a world that values tan bodies is a prospect that often trumps any perceived distant dangers, said Stephanie Nguyen, a senior majoring in microbiology and Spanish.
“”People should be more aware when they go out and tan so much,”” she said. “”Some are so preoccupied with looking good now that they don’t realize they’re going to look worse later.””
When dealing with sun exposure, “”looking worse”” can mean more than just added wrinkles and sun spots on the skin. Much of the treatment of melanoma is reliant on where it develops on the body, Cranmer said.
“”You don’t want to have to disfigure people to treat them,”” he said. “”If someone has melanoma on their face, we might have to do reconstructive treatments.””
