Image: © iStockphoto.com/Michael Ballard
About This Quiz
Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the United States. In fact, experts estimate that 1 in 50 people will have melanoma by 2010. So do yourself a favor and bone up on the facts.
Basal cell and squamous cell are the most common types of skin cancer.
fact
Ninety-five percent of skin cancers are basal cell and squamous cell -- which, fortunately, are highly curable.
fiction
almost fact: Basal cell is common; squamous cell is rare.
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Supermelanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer.
fact
fiction
almost fact: No "super" needed -- it's just plain old melanoma.
Melanoma is the most deadly skin cancer -- it causes 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths.
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A melanoma will usually grow out of an existing birthmark or mole.
fact
fiction
almost fact: Melanomas can grow in a birthmark or an existing mole, but they usually show up on unmarked skin.
It's more common for a melanoma to grow on unmarked skin.
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Melanomas can grow everywhere on your body except the palms of your hands and soles of your feet.
fact
fiction
Wrong. Melanomas can show up absolutely anywhere on your body.
almost fact: They can grow on your palms, but not the soles of your feet.
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Normal moles don't ooze, change color or bleed, but melanomas do.
fact
If you have a mole that's doing any of these things, chances are it's a melanoma.
fiction
almost fact: Any kind of mole can ooze, change color or bleed -- it's not necessarily a sign of cancer.
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The most common place for a melanoma to grow on a man is the ears.
fact
fiction
almost fact: It's the upper back.
Men tend to get melanomas on their upper backs.
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Women tend to find melanomas on their legs.
fact
The most common spot for melanomas in females of all ages is the legs.
fiction
almost fact: Women over 65 tend to find melanomas on their legs.
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The most common treatment for melanomas is radiation.
fact
fiction
Actually, your doctor will probably recommend surgery for a melanoma if the cancer hasn't spread.
almost fact: Chemotherapy is the most common treatment.
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Ultraviolet light from the sun causes skin cancer, but I won't damage my skin at all in a tanning bed.
fact
fiction
UV light from tanning beds is just as damaging as UV light from the sun.
almost fact: The UV light in tanning beds is dangerous, but not as bad as the sun.
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Experts believe that the sun causes most melanomas.
fact
The general expert consensus is that 65 percent of melanomas are caused by the sun. It's certainly the risk factor that you have the most control over, in any case.
fiction
almost fact: It's about half sun exposure and half heredity.
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You Got:
/10
© iStockphoto.com/Michael Ballard
