Health Promotion for Melanoma
Melanoma is the most dangerous kind of skin cancer, but is almost always curable. When unrepaired DNA damages the skin cells, these cancerous growths develop and activate the mutation process to reproduce quickly and form malignant tumors. They are most frequently developed by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds (The Skin Cancer Foundation, 1979). The most common form of cancer is skin cancer and it accounts for almost half of all cancers. Melanoma accounts for 76,250 out of an estimated three million cases of diagnosed skin cancer per year. An estimated of 12,190 deaths occurred in 2012, of which 9,180 were related to melanoma (Wilson & Giddens, 2013, p. 102). An estimated amount of 15% of adolescents and adults report worldwide exposure to artificial source of UV light for tanning purposes. Only 9.3% of adolescents follow protective measures for sun exposure compared to 73% of adults (Wilson & Giddens, 2013, p. 102). The age groups related to melanoma could range anywhere from children to elderly. Sun exposure is an extreme risk factor for skin cancer can be directly associated with melanoma. Both UVA and UVB rays are dangerous to the skin and can provoke skin cancer effectively. During childhood years, sunburns have become more common because of the lack of knowledge most parents have about sun exposure. It is heard consistently in the young and older adolescent community within the ages of 14 to 25 that being tan enhances beauty; however, the knowledge that it can increase your risk of developing melanoma and other skin caners exceptionally is thrown out the window.
The main goal concerning melanoma is to reduce the death rate. It is extremely essential to decreas...
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...ly in instances of reducing the reoccurrence. In doing so, the nurses should emphasize to the patient the importance of education to care for themselves. Patient educating is one of the most important health promoting assets in the health field setting. Knowledgably patients can decrease the visits to hospitals, as well as, increase their health status.
References
American Cancer Society. (2012). Cancer facts & figures. Atlanta: American Cancer Society.
The Skin Cancer Foundation. (1979). Melanoma. Retrieved from http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). 2020 Topic & Objectives. Retrieved from http://healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/objectiveslist.aspx?topicId=5
Wilson, S. F., & Giddens, J. F. (2013). Health assessment for nursing practice (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.
...s, K.D., London, F. (2005). Patient education in health and illness (5th ed.). New York: Lippincott.
Melanoma is a non-communicable disease and according to the Melanoma Institute of Australia, is a malignant skin cancer that affects thousands of individuals. It is a prevalent and serious non-communicable disease, making it an important issue in Australia. Both a biomedical perspective and sociological perspective must be considered to enable health practitioners to have a deep understanding about melanoma, and thus allow them to develop efficient and effective treatment and prevention methods.
Studies show that patients forget at least half of the information explained to them (Tamaru-Lis, 2013, p. 268). In addition, low health literacy correlates with poor disease management, readmissions, and poor compliance to treatments (Eadie, 2014, p. 9). The goal of teach-back, therefore, is to improve recollection and increase health literacy. Nursing practice is aimed towards meeting these goals. Ultimately, nursing practice will improve as nurses are better able to deliver quality care, promote patient safety, and increase patient satisfaction. As a result, patient outcomes are optimized because teach-back minimizes communication errors and encourages participation. Participation allows patients to make appropriate decisions which direct health care professionals to provide patient-centered care.
Often in practice, we as nurses deal with a variety of diseases and treatments and often have to react to the illness that the patient presents with upon our interaction. While this is an essential piece of our practice, we also have a duty to our patients to be proactive in preventing specific health-related consequences based on their risk factors and to promote their health and well being. Health promotion as it relates to nursing is about us empowering our patients to increase their control over their lives and well beings and includes: focusing on their health not just illness, empowering our patients, recognizing that health involves many dimensions and is also effected by factors outside of their control (Whitehead et al. 2008)..
Skin cancer is a significant public health issue in Australia. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun in the UVA and UVB wavelengths is the primary cause. Australia has been a world leader in efforts to protect the ozone layer, the main line of defense against ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. Ultraviolet radiation induces the formation of thymine dimers that cause mutation of skin cells if not repaired before DNA replication. Mutations of tumor suppressor genes can lead to uncontrolled cell growth. Ultraviolet radiation also causes immunosuppresion that allows skin cancers to become established. Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma are types of skin cancer caused by sun exposure, though each form is associated with a different pattern of exposure. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, due to a combination of tropical latitude, fair-skinned population, outdoor lifestyle, and high amount of ambient ultraviolet radiation. Widespread opinions about tanning and health benefits of sunlight lead many Australians to intentionally overexpose themselves to the sun. State cancer councils have developed sun safety and awareness campaigns, such as “Slip! Slop! Slap!” and “SunSmart,” to educate the population about sun exposure and encourage early detection of skin cancers. Gradual changes in knowledge and behavior indicate that the fight against skin cancer can be won.
A regular skin exam (every 6-8 weeks) will help in the melanoma dectection process. Look for irregular skin growths and have the growth examined by a health care provider if the growth promotes cause for alarm.
Well-known magazines often have broad headlines that show off celebrities sporting bronzed skin, and these articles often throw around the words “healthy” and “glowy” in a positive context. With this influence subjected upon the general public, indoor tanning has become a popular recreation of American men and women alike. As this new trend continues to rise, medical researchers are beginning to pay close attention to the health effects of indoor tanning, especially when referring to tanning beds, respectively. Through many recent case findings and studies, scientists have linked the use of tanning beds to many dermal health problems including types of skin cancers that are deadly. Despite the fact that tanning beds are detrimental to the dermal health of its victims, the use of tanning beds is on the rise and growing.
US Department of Health and Social Services, Healthy People 2010, 2nd Ed., US Gov. Printing Office, 2000.
Indoor tanning is becoming a very popular “hobby”, but most people do not know, or do not care, about its dangerous side effects. Studies show that people who use tanning booths have a much higher chance of being diagnosed with skin cancer. If someone were to start tanning indoors before they turn 30 or 25, the risk of them getting Melanoma peaks, and if they start tanning before they turn 20 or 25, they are much more likely to get basal and squamous cancer.
National Center for Health Statistics. (2000). Healthy people data 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2009, from http://www.healthypeople.gov/ data/data2010.htm
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Myths and Facts. n.d. Web. 16 November 2013.
Most parents remembered hearing about the importance of protecting their children from the sun, yet children are still playing in the sun without sunscreen or protective clothing. Many people these days are not taking skin cancer seriously after knowing its significance. Skin cancer has been a growing problem in the United States and millions of people have suffered from it every year. The three most common skin cancers are Melanoma, Basal cell, and Squamous cell, which can cause bumps, sores, growths, etc. Skin cancer is a deadly disease with many causes, but the advantage is that it can be prevented.
The office of minority health. (2013). U.S. department of health & human service. Retrieved from http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=11
The skin is the largest organ in the body, so it isn’t surprising that skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer, affecting 4% of all cases but causing 79% of skin cancer deaths. The average age of people diagnosed with Melanoma is between 45 and 55, although 25% of cases occur in people under 40. About 10% of all people with melanoma have a family history of melanoma. You are at increased risk of developing melanoma if there is a family history of melanoma in one or more of your first-degree relatives like a parent, child, brother or sister.
Healthy People 2020 is a program for the promotion of health and the prevention of diseases, launched by the Department of Health and Human Services in December 2010. According to healthypeople.gov, this program has four overarching goals which are first to achieve healthy, longer lives free of preventable diseases, injuries, and premature deaths; to achieve health fairness, eliminate differences, and improve all groups’ health; also to produce social and physical environments that encourage good health; and last but not least to promote life’s quality, healthy development, and healthy behaviors through all life stages. This program has a vision of a community where people live long, healthy lives. Healthy People 2020 offers a comprehensive set of 10 years of nationwide goals and objectives that is meant to improve the health of the American population. Healthy People 2020 covers 42 topic areas with approximately 600 objectives, which include 1,200 measures. A smaller set of Healthy People 2020 objectives, has been designated to communicate high-priority health issues and actions that can be taken to address them, this objectives are called Leading Health Indicators. The program goes above and beyond these health indicators in order to provide the best care for the people of this country. These indictors cover from the access of health service, nutrition, physical activity, and obesity to substance abuse, environmental quality, injury and violence.