Sunscreen may Prevent Skin Cancer

Cortlandt Manor, NY - (July 28, 2011) – The summer sun has left Hudson Valley residents sweltering in recent weeks, but it also may be silently wrecking havoc on their skin.

“Protecting against the sun’s rays is important,’’ said Dr. Pond Kelemen of the Ashikari Breast Center at Hudson Valley Hospital Center. Dr. Kelemen, who in addition to treating breast cancer patients, specializes in the treatment or melanoma or skin cancer. Dr. Kelemen says that a recently published study shows that using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater can reduce the incidence of melanoma. In fact, proper use of such sunscreen can also help to protect against melanomas for up to 10 years.

“I think that there is a growing consciousness that people need to protect against the sun, but I’m not sure people understand just how important the use of sunscreen is in the prevention of melanoma,’’ said Kelemen.

Kelemen, whose own mother was diagnosed with melanoma, said a study recently published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology followed a group of more than 1,600 people age 25 to 75 in Queensland Township in Australia for 15 years. From 1992 to 1996, the study subjects were split into two groups – one used sunscreen daily and the other only sporadically.  After 10 years of follow up, 11 new primary melanomas were found in the daily sunscreen group while twice as many – 22 – were found in the group that only used sunscreen sporadically.

“The study seems to give weight to the common wisdom that sunscreen is important in the prevention of skin cancer,’’ said Kelemen.

Kelemen and his colleagues, Drs. Roy and Andrew Ashikari, recently began seeing patients at Hudson Valley Hospital Center.

Their arrival comes as Hudson Valley Hospital Center is poised to open a new $25 million Comprehensive Cancer Care Center and Medical Office Building that will offer total cancer care in one location including tomotherapy, radiation and infusion therapy as well as all support services.  The Center is set to open in November.

Kelemen said there were long range plans for a special clinic to treat melanoma at HVHC’s new Comprehensive Cancer Center.

###

Hudson Valley Hospital Center is dedicated to serving the health care needs of the community and to providing quality, comprehensive medical care in a compassionate, professional, respectful manner, without regard to race, religion, national origin or disease category. Offering state-of-the-art diagnostic treatment, education and preventive services, the Hospital is committed to improving the quality of life in the community.  In fulfilling this mission, the Hospital will strive to continuously improve the care provided and develop and offer programs, facilities, systems and alliances that most effectively respond to community health care needs.  Hudson Valley Hospital Center is located on Route 202 (1980 Crompond Road) in Cortlandt Manor, New York. Call 914-737-9000 or visit www.hvhc.org