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FEBRUARY 2022
Exposing skin cancer
What’s the #1 cancer diagnosis among Costco employees and their family members? Skin cancer.1 Roughly one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives,2 and it can affect anyone, regardless of skin color. The good news is that skin cancer is treatable and, in most cases, preventable. Avoid sun exposure, stay away from tanning beds, wear sunscreen and learn to do a skin self-exam to spot signs of cancer early.
Doctors recommend doing a skin cancer self-exam about once a month. The best time is right after your shower or bath. If you see something new, changing or unusual, get checked by a dermatologist right away. It could be skin cancer.
1Skin cancer diagnosis January 2021–June 2021 among employees and their family members covered by a Costco medical plan through Aetna®.
2Skin Cancer Foundation. Skin Cancer Facts & Statistics.
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How to perform a skin self-exam
Examine your body in a full-length mirror.
Examine your body (front and back) in the mirror, then look at the right and left sides with your arms raised.
Look at your underarms, forearms and palms.
Bend elbows and look carefully at underarms, forearms and palms.
Look at your legs, between toes and the soles of your feet.
Look at the backs of your legs and feet, the spaces between your toes, and the soles of your feet.
Use a hand mirror to examine your neck and scalp.
Examine the back of your neck and scalp with a hand mirror. Part hair for a closer look.
Use a hand mirror to check your back and buttocks.
Finally, check your back and buttocks with a hand mirror.
Source: American Academy of Dermatology Association. Detect skin cancer: how to perform a skin cancer self-exam.