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- Tampa Bay Rays Seeking to Strike Out Skin Cancer
- Healthy Resolutions for Any Diet
- Mixing Medications Is Risky
- Are You Following the ABCDs?
Tampa Bay Rays Seeking to Strike Out Skin Cancer
The Tampa Bay Rays will once again take to the road with Moffitt Cancer Center to conduct free skin cancer screenings during Major League Baseball’s spring training games in March.
Spring Swing, Moffitt’s Sun Safety Tour, is expected to visit six ballparks in Florida and offer free skin cancer screenings, Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, T-shirts and skin cancer education.
“This is the third year that we’re reaching out to fans and stressing the need to think about sun safety,” says Stuart Sternberg, principal owner of the Rays and a member of Moffitt’s National Board of Advisors. “March is a wonderful time of the year to enjoy baseball and enjoy all that Florida has to offer. But we want our fans to take sun safety seriously and be prepared.”
Two hours prior to select games, the Spring Swing team begins its work—inviting fans to undertake a quick, five-minute skin cancer screening before game time. Onboard Moffitt’s 40-foot screening bus are surgical oncologists, dermatopathologists, dermatologists and mid-level practitioners who specialize in skin cancer, particularly melanoma. Private rooms are available if more sensitive areas need to be examined.
“When you come onboard for a screening, our goal is to look at those moles that you are most concerned about,” says Vernon Sondak, M.D., Chief of Moffitt’s Department of Cutaneous Oncology. “We want to know if you’ve seen any changes in color, shape or size in those moles.”
If you’re headed out to a ball game—or any outdoor activity—Sondak recommends these sun-safe tips:
- Wear long sleeves, sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Use a waterproof sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher; reapply every two hours.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Avoid the sun during peak hours—between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
In 2009, the Spring Swing team visited six Major League Baseball games during spring training, conducting 695 free skin cancer screenings. They found 119 suspected cancerous lesions and 292 suspected pre-cancerous lesions.
To check the 2010 Spring Swing schedule, visit www.InsideMoffitt.com.
Articles courtesy of Moffitt Cancer Center. For more information about advances in the treatment of cancer, second opinions, cancer prevention, screening, clinical trials or support groups, call 1-888-MOFFITT (663-3488). Or visit InsideMofffitt.com and click on “Cancer Answers” to email your questions.
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Healthy Resolutions for Any Diet
“If your resolutions for 2010 include eating healthier to help prevent cancers, heart disease or other chronic diseases—or if you’re trying to lose pounds by going on a low-carb diet—adding more fruits and vegetables can fit into any diet prescription,” says Nagi Kumar, Ph.D., R.D., FADA, Director of Nutrition Research and a Senior Member of the Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior at Moffitt Cancer Center.
“Our knowledge about what causes and prevents cancer and other chronic diseases has expanded significantly over the past decade, and we know that plant foods are full of substances called phytochemicals, which are known to have protective or disease-preventive properties,” says Kumar, one of the authors of Forkwise: Diet and the Prevention of Cancer, a Moffitt publication aimed at promoting healthier eating. “Fruits and vegetables also are naturally low in calories and rich in fiber.”
Experts recommend eating at least five to nine servings of plant foods each day, including a variety of vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains. This sounds like a lot, but there are many ways to add more of these nutritious foods to your diet, such as choosing fruit as a snack or dessert in place of cookies, chips or candy; adapting recipes to include more red, green and yellow fruits and vegetables; pureeing veggies to add to spaghetti sauce and other dressings; and substituting applesauce or pureed prunes for oil or shortening in baked goods.
“Cook with safer and more flavorful fats such as olive oil,” Kumar says. “Then enjoy your meal, knowing that by following these simple steps, watching portion sizes and adding just 30 to 45 minutes of exercise each day, you’ll be well on your way to a healthier you.”
Tips for Healthy Eating
- Keep It Colorful. Your diet should include lots of fruits and vegetables. Your plate should look like an artist’s palette!
- Choose Lean Protein. Avoid high-fat dairy and meat products. Choose skinless chicken and turkey, seafood and meats that don’t contain a high fat content.
- Stay Hydrated. Our bodies are 75 percent water. Drink plenty of water every day.
- Whole Grains. Switch out white breads and pasta for whole grain varieties.
- Eat Moderate Portions. Speak with your doctor to understand what the appropriate caloric daily intake is for you to maintain a healthy weight. Spread your meals out throughout the day for sustained energy and nutrition.
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Mixing Medications Is Risky
Remember those high school chemistry experiments in which you mixed two harmless chemicals and got a bizarre reaction? Medications can react with each other, too—sometimes with dangerous results. For example, common over-the-counter antacids such as Maalox and Tums can interfere with the heart drug Digoxin. Or drugs may work too well together. Aspirin and the prescription drug Coumadin (warfarin), used separately, can safely help prevent blood clots by thinning the blood. When combined, they raise the risk of serious bleeding.
Take steps to protect yourself from dangerous interactions. Make sure your doctors know about every medication you currently take, including over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies. Ideally, you should bring a list of your medications to every doctor’s appointment. Carefully read the labels of all your medications, including the package inserts. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
Questions About Your Medications? Ask-a-Pharmacist
In addition to saving AAA members an average of 24 percent on prescriptions, the AAA Prescription Savings program now gives members access to the Ask-a-Pharmacist program.
This program provides AAA members the opportunity to speak with a pharmacist regarding prescription drugs they are taking or considering. Simply call toll-free—1-866-AAA-SAVE—and ask to speak to a pharmacist.
The AAA Prescription Savings program is free to AAA members and is accepted at 9 out of 10 pharmacies nationwide. Click here for your free AAA Prescription Savings card and start saving today!
This is not insurance. Discounts are only available at participating pharmacies. By using this card, you agree to pay the entire prescription cost less any applicable discount.
Are You Following The ABCDs?
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Melanoma, or skin cancer, is a disease that can be relatively easy to treat if you detect it early. You should be screened annually by a demotologist, but between screenings, be sure to keep an eye on any changes to the moles on your body. If a mole gets a little thicker or spreads a few cells to a lymph node, you may end up with one of the more difficult cancers to treat. At Moffitt Cancer Center, skin cancer specialists recommend using the American Cancer Society’s ABCD rule—plus E and F—when self-examining your skin. Be aware of any changes and report them to your physician as soon as possible.
Mole changes are a tip-off for Melanoma
Asymmetry: Half of the mole doesn’t match the other half.
Border: Normal moles are round or oval. The borders of a melanoma may be irregular, notched or blurred.
Color: Common moles are normally one color throughout. Melanomas are not uniform and can have shades of brown and black, and possibly red, white or blue.
Diameter: Healthy moles are generally less than 1.4 inches (6 millimeters) in diameter—the size of a pencil eraser. Melanomas are usually larger.
Elevation: Change from a flat mole or blemish to a raised one.
Feeling: Change such as burning,
itching or tenderness.