May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month

Protect Your Skin in the Sun

It's never too late to begin protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays. Minimizing sun exposure is the best way to prevent skin damage, including many types of skin cancer. Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute encourages you to follow these tips year-round to enjoy the sun safely and help prevent sun-related skin problems:

Avoid the strongest sun rays of the day between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Follow the shadow rule. If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun is at its highest intensity. Seek shade!
Wear protective clothing when possible. A wide-brimmed hat shading your face, ears and neck; sunglasses with UV absorption to protect your eyes and surrounding skin; and long-sleeved, tightly woven clothing that you cannot see through when held up to the light can help block harmful rays and serve as a line of defense against sun exposure. Cotton and linen fabrics are smart choices for hot weather.
Generously apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more about 20 minutes before going outside to allow time for the active ingredients in the sunscreen to reach the protection level. Reapply every two hours or at the first sensation of tingling or burning. Don't forget to apply on cloudy or overcast days too!
Apply a lip balm with at least SPF 15 on your lips.
Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand because they reflect and intensify the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chances of sunburn.
Avoid artificial tanning devices. UVA rays from tanning beds and sun lamps are 20 times stronger than natural sun, and can damage your skin. Consider using a sunless self-tanning product as an alternative.

Remember, skin cancer is very treatable when caught early. If you notice a suspicious mole, sore, or skin growth, or any bleeding on your skin, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist.

Skin and Bone Cancer: A Matter of Facts

Skin and bone cancer specialists from Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute recently teamed up with abc27 to discuss treatment and prevention during a live call-in show that featured patient survivor stories and interviews with physicians. Click here to watch the show.

Look Good… Feel Better

Look Good…Feel Better helps female cancer patients improve their appearance and self-image by teaching them hands-on beauty techniques to manage the appearance of side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. This program is available throughout the year at Penn State Hershey. Dates, locations and times vary. Registration is required. View the full schedule here. To register, call 1-800-227-2345.

Free Wig Program

Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute is a proud supporter of the American Cancer Society's Free Wig Salon program located in Infusion Therapy - first floor to help patients undergoing cancer treatments and experiencing hair loss. Those who may be looking for a wig can visit the private Wig Room where a licensed cosmetologist provides personal assistance in wig selection, fitting, styling, and wearing at no charge. All fittings in the Cancer Institute Wig Room are by appointment only. Click here for more information about the Wig Room, including how to schedule an appointment.

Finding Hope with Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute

Check out our latest issue of Finding Hope which features articles about the emotional side of cancer, thyroid cancer, thoracic/lung cancer care, ways to shield yourself from skin cancer, and clinical trials.

Salute a Hershey Hero

Provides patients, parents and other family members an opportunity to recognize staff members at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center who have created a positive patient experience through outstanding customer service, quality patient care and random acts of kindness. All staff of Penn State Hershey may be recognized, as well as non-staff whose primary role focuses on providing services at the hospital or one of our Medical Group locations.

Click here to recognize a Penn State Hershey staff member who has provided outstanding patient care or customer service

eNewsletter

Stay up-to-date on the latest Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute news by subscribing to our e-newsletter. Distributed every other month to your inbox, each issue provides information on our multidisciplinary teams, research and education, community outreach, calendar events and much more.

Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute named Blue Distinction Center for Complex and Rare Cancers

Highmark Blue Shield has named Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute—at both Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Lehigh Valley Hospital—as a Blue Distinction Center for Complex and Rare Cancers^SM.

Complex and rare cancers comprise approximately 15 percent of new cancer cases each year, making it difficult for patients to research or locate facilities with oncologists or surgical teams that are experienced in treating these specific malignancies. Click to learn more.

Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute delivers cancer services throughout central and eastern Pennsylvania. The Institute's mission includes clinical care, research, education and community outreach. Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute brings the benefits of cancer-related research and education at Penn State's College of Medicine to the care of patients at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Our Partners and Affiliates Include:

Penn State was founded as the Farmer’s High School in 1855. The largest campus is at University Park (State College), Pennsylvania, with 24 other campuses located throughout the Commonwealth, including the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The University includes ten undergraduate colleges, the Graduate School, the College of Medicine and several other components. The University is accredited by the Middle States Association and is a member of the Association of American Universities. More..

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