Articles
Turning Tragedy into Triumph: A Skin Cancer Experience
By Renee Sedoo
It was a Friday afternoon when Rhonda and Darren received the results of his
biopsy. The suspicious mole on his back was indeed cancerous. The whirlwind
that followed swept their small family up into a world of cancer education,
treatments, and difficult decisions. Darren was a handsome, vibrant man of twenty-seven,
with every intention of beating this disease. They thought he had succeeded,
and lived with the uncertainty of remission that every cancer survivor knows.
Five years later, the cancer emerged with a powerful force. Melanoma, the
most deadly of skin cancers, had attacked his lymphatic system. The metastasis
quickly spread throughout his body. Cancer was not to succumb, no matter what
the treatment. At thirty two, Darren died from a disease that prior to his diagnosis,
he never knew to fear.
What do you do in the midst of tragedy? Rhonda channeled the energy generated
by her pain. The realization of the dangers of the sun damage in later years
ignited a fire within her. Darren had always been an athletic outdoorsman. His
youth was spent under the sun, doing a number of sports and recreational activities.
From surfing to skiing, he had no knowledge of what the sun was doing to his
body. Darren, like many of us, never imagined that playing in the sun in his
youth without skin protection would attack him in his adulthood. The burning
need to educate parents on this fact and to provide information on how to protect
their children while in the sun became Rhonda’s passion.
Just months after Darren’s passing, the DLF Foundation was created by
Rhonda and her brother. The Foundation has the main goal of getting the word
about the risks of skin cancer. The “Slide for the Cure” event,
initially held annually at the Dodge Ridge Ski Resort, a favorite location of
Darren’s, attracts hundred’s of participants that spend the day
on the mountain, collecting donations for each of their ski runs taken throughout
the event. The foundation has donated over $75,000 to the local hospital’s
cancer center and is in the process of establishing permanent shade structures
in various locations throughout the nation. The foundation allowed Rhonda to
successfully educate many on the dangers of the sun, but she wanted to do something
more.
With three young boys who love playing outside like their father, Rhonda began
searching for the best options for sun protection. She discovered sun protective
clothing, but at the time, most of it was made in adult sizes only. “It
was so frustrating!” I had to get everything on line, and found the selections
available for children extremely limited and expensive. I started thinking of
all the families who don’t even know they should be doing this. I didn’t
know, until Darren got skin cancer.”
Rhonda decided to manufacture her own swimshirt for children. It took a few
years after Darren’s death to gain the strength, but the result is UV
Skinz, a swimshirt designed to go from the water to the playground, and protect
young skin the entire time. With a UPF rating of 50+, the highest protection
factor available, the shirts block out over 98% of the sun’s harmful rays.
Just putting on a swimshirt keeps your skin protected all day long. No more
sunscreen, that needs to be applied every few hours. Rhonda wants to get the
word out. Just one sunburn as a child more than doubles your risk of developing
skin cancer as an adult. Sunscreen is important, but the best form of protection
is clothing that has been rated for UV protection.
Most of us have some level of skin cell damage from the sun’s UV rays,
even if we’ve never burned. Long term unprotected sun exposure is a danger
to everyone. As the ozone layer decreases, sun damage becomes even more likely.
Several risk factors further increase the chance of developing skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. It is
now estimated that 1.3 million Americans are diagnosed with one form of skin
cancer or another each year. “The southern hemisphere is a good ten years
ahead of us in sun protection awareness. I want parents here to know what I’ve
learned the hard way”, says Rhonda. “I want to prevent as many
sunburns as possible, to as many children as possible.” It’s Rhonda’s
intention to educate. “This is Darren’s legacy to his own three
sons, and to as many children as I can reach with UV Skinz.”
Rhonda Sparks-Farwell is not new to small business entrepreneurialism. Twelve
years ago it was Rhonda who developed a system of conference calling which took
the industry by storm. Sparks Communications is a leader in the field of audio
conferencing. With her previous skills in the business world, and her passion
for skin cancer awareness, Rhonda will no doubtedly bring a new understanding
to families with young children. With her UV Skinz swim shirts, she seeks to
accomplish her hopes of protecting children, one skin at a time.
Most Skin Cancer Cases are Entirely Preventable!
By Kristine Willis
Everyone is susceptible to skin cancer, however some have significantly higher
risks of developing skin cancer based on the genes their parents pass to them.
Some inherit specific genes directly related to causing skin cancer while others
have a dramatically increased risk of developing skin cancer when UV exposure
is combined with genes that affect physical attributes or cause related medical
conditions. Be aware of your medical history and your potential increased propensity
toward skin cancer.
The American Academy of Dermatology cites three factors in particular when
combined with UV exposure (whether via the sun or tanning beds) that are potentially
lethal cocktails and require extra diligence in UV protection:
- Light, Fair Skin (especially with light hair and/or eye color)
- Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome (inherited medical condition)
- Xeroderma Pigmentosum (inherited medical condition)
Light Skin. Light skin leaves a person more susceptible to
potential UV damage. The lighter the skin, the more easily UV rays are absorbed.
The darker the skin, the more natural resistance to UV absorption a person has.
The same principle applies to clothing. Lighter colored clothing absorbs more
UV rays while darker clothing absorbs less and reflects more. Our bodies have
the ability to heal (sunburns are the body’s attempt to shield the skin
from additional UV absorption) but if UV damage consistently occurs, the body’s
natural defenses will break down and skin cancer will very likely develop.
Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome. This inherited medical condition
affects the skin, nervous system, eyes, bones and some glands often resulting
in the development of many basal cell skin cancers in patients before the age
of 30. Basal skin cancers are located in the outer layers of the skin exposed
to the sun; rarely spread to other parts of the body; and are the most common
skin cancers accounting for about 80% of all skin cancers.
Avoiding the sun is imperative for those diagnosed with basal cell nevus syndrome.
When UV exposure cannot be avoided, skin protection must be maximized. Protective
clothing, sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection (from UVA and UVB
rays) and sunglasses that provide UVA and UVB protection should be worn (don’t
forget your eyes!).
Xeroderma Pigmentosum. This inherited medical condition restricts
the body’s ability to repair damage caused by UV exposure. Avoiding the
sun is an absolute necessity as people with this condition have such an extreme
sensitivity to UV light exposure that their chances of developing skin cancer
are 1000 times greater than those without the condition. Most afflicted with
xeroderma pigmentosum have skin cancer by the age of 8 with life expectancy
dramatically decreasing for these patients.
Protect Yourself and Our Children
Overall, the AAD tells us that about 10% of those who develop melanoma (the
deadliest form accounting for about 4% of all skin cancers) have inherited
genes that cause skin cancer. Studies have shown that the other 90% of melanoma
cases (and most other skin cancers) are not caused by inherited genes. This
is a big indicator of how preventable the majority of skin cancers are. Experts
tell us that about 80% of the sun damage that will be done to the skin is done
before the age of 18.
While education and awareness are increasing, skin cancer rates in the U.S.
are still climbing significantly in sharp contrast to many other cancers with
declining rates in the U.S. Those who are prone to skin cancer and have higher
risk indicators should consult their doctors or dermatologists regularly.
About the Author: Kristine Willis represents UV Skinz UPF 50+ protective swimshirts
for babies, kids and adults. As a skin cancer patient herself, she is a staunch
advocate of UV protective clothing as a necessity, not a luxury.
What is the difference between SPF and UPF?
By Kristine Willis
SPF is short for sun protection factor while UPF stands for ultraviolet protection
factor. Both are measurements of protection against sunburn but SPF is most
commonly used when referring to sunscreen and UPF refers to the sun protective
quality of fabric (i.e. UV protective clothing).
SPF measures the additional time factor beyond the skin’s natural defenses
that a person’s skin can be exposed to the sun before the skin will redden.
If a sunscreen provides SPF 15 protection and a person would normally burn
in 10 minutes naturally, then applying SPF 15 sunscreen should allow that person
to remain in the sun for 150 minutes before beginning to burn (10 minutes x
SPF 15 = 150 minutes). SPF is only a measure of UVB protection and does not
indicate protection against UVA rays. UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburns
and the development of skin cancers while UVA rays penetrate more deeply damaging
skin’s connective tissue causing premature aging and contributing to
the development of skin cancers.
UPF is a measure of UV ray permeability through a fabric. A UV protective
swimshirt that provides 50+ UPF protection will only allow 1/50th (or 2%) of
the sun’s UVA and UVB rays to penetrate the fabric. This means that the
swimshirt blocks out 98% of the sun’s harmful UV rays. UPF is determined
by the weave, color, weight, wetness and stretch of a fabric. The tighter the
weave, the darker the color, the heavier the weight, the dryer and the less
stretchy a fabric is, the higher the UPF rating.
Australia has pioneered the sun protective clothing industry in response
to the country’s highest skin cancer rates in the world.
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency is a Federal
Government agency formed to provide health and safety protection from damaging
radiation. ARPANSA provides a measuring service for sun protective clothing
based on the above mentioned factors. Measurement standards provide that the
highest UPF rating a garment can receive is 50 (blocks out 98% of harmful UV
rays). Clothing that rates higher than 50 is labeled as UPF 50+. The following
table summarizes the UPF ratings and affiliated UV blocking protection*:
| UV RATING |
UV PROTECTION |
UV Blocked |
| 15, 20 |
Good Protection |
93.3% to 95.8% |
| 25, 30, 35 |
Very Good Protection |
95.9% to 97.4% |
| 40, 45, 50, 50+ |
Excellent Protection |
> 97.5% |
Many agencies offer apparel sun protection testing. Be sure to check for
tags and labels indicating that your sun protective clothing has been tested
and rated for maximum protection.
About the Author: Kristine Willis represents UV Skinz UPF 50+ protective
swimshirts for babies, kids and adults. As a skin
cancer patient herself, she is a staunch advocate of UV protective
clothing as a necessity, not a luxury.
*Source: Australian Radiation Lab
Top 10 States for Melanoma
(courtesy of The Cherry Creek News Tuesday, May 1, 2007)
The Skin Cancer Foundation sheds some light on projected melanoma incidence
state-by-state. The release below reveals which states have the highest and
lowest incidence, explains the risk factors and how to prevent them.
MELANOMA INCIDENCE HIGHEST IN SUN BELT
Almost 50 percent of all estimated new cases concentrated in 10 states
Cherry Creek -- Almost half of the estimated 60,000 new cases of melanoma
projected this year will occur in just ten states. Since the climates in states
where melanoma is diagnosed most frequently - California, Florida, and Texas
- are hot and sunny throughout the year, the projections from the American
Cancer Society are consistent with research showing that about 65 to 90 percent
of melanoma cases are linked to UV exposure.
Estimated New Cases of Melanoma by State per 100,000 People
- California - 6,680
- Florida - 4,380
- Texas - 3,860
- Pennsylvania - 3,120
- New York - 3,070
- Ohio - 2,390
- New Jersey - 2,210
- Michigan - 2,080
- Illinois - 2,050
- Massachusetts - 1,820
As expected, states at higher latitudes, which have less sun exposure and
cooler temperatures, have the lowest projected incidence of melanoma. These
states include: Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, Vermont, South Dakota, Delaware
and Montana. The only surprise on these lists would be Hawaii, which surprisingly
has a low incidence of melanoma.
"While it's a hot tropical climate, it's likely that Hawaii's melanoma
incidence is low because the state has a large percentage (58%) of Asian Americans,
who have a relatively high amount of the sun-protective pigment melanin in
their skin," said Steven Wang, MD, member of The Skin Cancer Foundation's
Photobiology Committee and Director of Dermatologic Surgery at Memorial Sloan
Kettering in New Jersey.
Melanoma risk factors include: light skin color, family and/or personal
history of skin cancer, presence of atypical moles and freckles and history
of severe sunburn occurring early in life. No matter where you live, it's important
to be aware of these risk factors and take the necessary measures to prevent
skin cancer.
Are your children covered this summer?
By Renee Sedoo
August 2005
Summer is here, and with it, a heated effort to educate families on the importance
of protecting children’s skin while out in the sun. UV SKINZ, a new company
located in Sonora, in conjunction with the Darren Lee Farwell Foundation for
skin cancer awareness, is attempting to get the word out about the dangers
of the sun. The statistics are startling. Just one sunburn before the age of
17 more than doubles the chance of developing skin cancer in adult years!
Rhonda Sparks lost her 32-year-old husband, Darren, to melanoma three years
ago. Since then, she has channeled her grief into efforts towards education
and skin cancer prevention. “We were just so ignorant to the causes
of skin cancer and how deadly it can be,” said sparks. The desire to
make parents aware of how dangerous sun exposure is for children, and provide
them with the tools for protection has become her passion. With the help of
a few good friends, Sparks established the non-profit organization, The DLF
Foundation, which has the mission of education and skin cancer prevention. “The
Slide for the Cure” fund-raiser at Dodge Ridge is the Foundation’s
largest annual event, and reaches hundreds of families each year.
Sparks’ experience with skin cancer brought a new level of awareness.
Most cancers of the skin are preventable, and according to the ACS, sun-protective
clothing is the best form of protection. Sparks found it especially frustrating
to cover her own three young sons with sun-protective clothing. The choices
were limited, and costly. She decided to manufacture her own line of swimshirts,
with the goal of providing a high quality product that is affordable. She wants
all families to be able to cover their kids up this summer!
UV Skinz are swimshirts designed for children to wear in and out of the
water. They come in long and short sleeve styles, and in a variety of color
combinations. Their sporty look and cool logo make them popular among a wide
age range. The spandex/nylon shirts have a tight weave that blocks out 98%
of the sun’s harmful rays. This gives them a UPF 50+ rating, the highest
protection rating available. The shirts are comfortable, and dry quickly. Sunscreen,
(which should be applied thirty minutes prior to sun exposure) is then only
needed on the face, hands and legs.
Similar shirts are readily available in the southern hemisphere, where awareness
of the dangers of the sun is widespread. “Other parts of the world,
like Australia, are a good ten years ahead of us in UV ray awareness. Here
in the states, however, there is a great need for education and the availability
of protective clothing. This type of clothing is more difficult to find, unless
you live on the coast, and quality products typically have to be ordered online
or through a catalog. Parents have to know to look for them”, says Sparks.
It is her goal to make UV protective swimwear readily available locally, and
get parents and children in the mindset that slipping on a swimshirt is just
something they do before going to the lake of pool. “I just want to
get kids covered,” she says.
While sun exposure is a year-round issue, summer is an especially important
time of year to cover up. UV Skinz and the DLF Foundation want to encourage
families to follow the American Cancer Society’s slogan, “slip,
slop, slap…slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, and slap on a hat” before
going out in the sun! UV Skinz are available at Mountain Sage and the Groveland
Hotel. The swimshirts are available in child sizes 2-14. Baby styles and adult
styles will be available in the near future. [UV Skinz has since expanded to
offer baby styles as well as adult styles in sizes six-months through XX-Large].
The Skin Cancer Foundation's Skin Cancer Prevention Tips:
- Seek the shade, especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
- Do not burn.
- Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
- Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
- Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) total of sunscreen to all exposed areas,
30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or immediately after
swimming or excessive sweating.
- Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
- Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over
the age of six months.
- Examine your skin from head-to-toe every month.