Our mission is to optimize
the quality of life of cancer survivors.

Cancer Survivor (n): "any individual that has been diagnosed with cancer, from the time of discovery and for the balance of life"-- National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

May 2, 2008

Dear Friends,

Although we are still hearing rumors of snowfall, spring is officially here. This means that we will all be spending more time outdoors and enjoying everything the area has to offer. Spending time soaking up the mountain air at an altitude like ours can prove to be extremely harmful to our health. Since May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to be sure you are informed on how to protect your skin while enjoying the great outdoors.

Did you know that skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer yet it is the most preventable? Here are 10 ways you can prevent skin cancer:

1. Avoid direct sun between the hours of 10am and 4pm
2. Seek shade. Did you know that if your shadow is shorter than you, the sun is at or near its strongest point?
3. Choose clothes that you cannot see through when held up to light.
4. SUNSCREEN! Sunscreen should be reapplied often, especially after swimming or activity that causes you to sweat. Sunscreen should be worn on hazy and overcast days as well!
5. Wear a hat to protect your face!
6. Wear sunglasses with 99%-100% UV protection. Did you know that optometrists see an abundance of patients in the summer due to eye damage from the sun?
7. Avoid tanning beds.
8. Always use a lip balm with SPF – remember, your lips can burn just as easily as the rest of your skin!
9. Be prepared for sun. Just because it is cloudy when you leave does not mean that weather won’t change.
10. See your doctor on a regular basis to have a skin check done.

By protecting yourself from the sun, you can reduce your chance of skin cancer by up to 80%.

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The Cancer Survivor Center is often asked why Aspen has a higher cancer rate than the majority of Colorado. The answer is this:

Accoring to statistics provided by the National Cancer Institute, Aspen and Pitkin County do not have cancer rates that are higher or lower than would be expected simply based on where we live. There is some mis-interpretation of how many cancer patients we have. It appears we have a high incidence rate simply because we live in a small town and everyone knows everybody else. Scientific data analysis provided by NCI does not support a high-incidence rate in our area. (Please see below)

National incidence rate for cancer: 473.6 (per 100,000 individuals)
Colorado incidence rate for cancer: 450.6
PitkinCounty: 441.3

There are, however, two items that are different in Aspen compared the general population. PitkinCounty has a higher number of breast cancer diagnoses and higher survival rate for that cancer. The reason is not so clear. Does living in Aspen CAUSE more breast cancer or are more people in the valley are able to screen for that cancer (through regular doctor's visits and low cost mammograms) and more women are able to afford and find the best treatment? This, we do not know the answer to.

For additional information and statistics, please visit the National Cancer Institute's homepage at www.cancer.gov

In health,

Riggs