Skin cancer rates high on the High Desert

Oregon has the fifth-highest rate of melanoma in the country,and the High Desert has some of the highest rates of skin cancer in the state, according to the American Cancer Society.

In Deschutes and Jefferson counties, about 35 per 100,000 residents will be diagnosed with skin cancer.

There are a few reasons Central Oregon has such high rates of skin cancer.

“You know, living in the High Desert is like the perfect storm of problems when it comes to skin cancer,” said Dr. Sancy Leachman, head of melanoma research at the Knight Cancer Institute in Portland.

First of all, the High Desert is naturally sunny. On average, there are almost 300 days of sunshine here.

“There are many, many sunny days,” Leachman said.

The second factor can be found in its name: the High Desert, which is almost 4,000 feet above sea level. The higher up you go, the less atmosphere there is to absorb harmful rays.

“So you get more damage per minute, because you’re at a higher altitude,” Leachman said.

This is all happening in a community that is predominantly Caucasian. The CDC says white men and women have the highest rates of skin cancer, as opposed to any other ethnicity.

“On top of that, people in the Bend area — they’re outdoorsy,” Leachman said.

With all those days of sunshine, every outdoor activity in Bend involves maximum sun exposure. Even skiing and snowboarding and other snow sports can be dangerous in that regard, as the sun reflects off of surfaces like snow and water.

“A lot of patients will actually get skin cancer under their nose, because they forget to put sunscreen there,” said Dr. Joshua May of Bend Dermatology.

Most cases of skin cancer are non-melanoma. Those are caused by light you get over time, not necessarily one big sunburn. Melanoma, however, is usually caused by blistering sunburns. Getting just one blistering burn can double your chances of getting melanoma.

It can happen on any part of the body, and it varies in shape and size. Skin cancer also comes in all different colors. It can be red, brown, black or even green.

“They have this A, B, C, D, E, rule,” Leachman said.

These are things to look for when inspecting your skin. Leachman advises doing skin checks once a month.

A, stands for asymmetry, “meaning it’s not a mirror image,” she said.

B stands for border irregularity. C, stands for color change and D stands for diameter — ‘no greater than the size of a pencil eraser,” Leachman said.

E stands for evolution — that means any change you might be seeing in a current mole or the formation of a new one after the age of 35. Experts say the body does not make new moles after that age.

When caught early, skin cancer is almost always treatable. If caught late, it can be deadly.

There are many reputable sites online for more information on skin cancer. A good place to start: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/skin