July is UV Safety Awareness Month

With summer activities in full swing, it is important for people to be aware of the dangers caused by exposure to the sun. July is Ultraviolet (UV) Safety Awareness Month.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 9,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. More than two people die of the disease every hour.

Harmful UV rays are known to cause damage to eyes and skin and can also cause skin cancer.

One local woman learned that her love of the sun and tanning beds when she was young has led to a life-threatening desease that affects not only herself but her family, friends and co-workers as well.

Area resident Tracie Fontenot said she found a spot on her back in 2011.

“I didn’t think it was a big deal at first,” said Fontenot. “I was aware there was always a chance but I said this will never happen to me.”

After a few months, the spot began changing colors and Fontenot has been fighting melanoma since then.

“Melanoma is a form of cancer that is largely due to damage that is caused by the sun,” she said. “Skin cancer is bad enough but melanoma rapidly spreads into the blood system, affecting organs including the lungs, brain and liver, as well as bones and lymph nodes.”

Fontenot has experienced spots on her liver and one lung, she said.

“Looking back, if I could’ve seen the future, I would have never spent time in tanning beds,” said Fontenot. “There is just not enough awareness.”

Fontenot recalls burning at least four times in her life where she experienced blisters and sunstroke, which she said directly resulted in her diagnosis of melanoma.

On average, a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns but just one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence can more than double a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

People who first use a tanning bed before age 35 increase their risk for melanoma by 75 percent. The vast majority of melanomas are caused by the sun.

UV radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum that reaches the earth from the sun. Ultraviolet A (UVA) is the longer wave that causes lasting skin damage, aging and skin cancer. Ultraviolet B (UVB) is the shorter UV wave that causes sunburns, skin damage and skin cancer.

Fontenot recommends using a broad spectrum sun protection.

“In my younger days, we used a tanning oil with the least amount of protection,” said Fontenot. “It is important to use a sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVA rays daily with at least a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more.”

She explained that people with light eyes, light hair and light skin are more susceptible to the harmful affects of the rays.

“Melanoma can also affect the tissue of the eyes,” said Fontenot. “People with light eyes should be wearing sunglasses with UV protection.”

Treatments for the disease have come a long way, she said.

“I started treatments in 2015 for the spots on my lungs,” said Fontenot. “I could only have the oral chemotherapy for five months. It did suppress the cancer but it did not rid the spot on my lung.”

She said she has been participating in immunotherapy along with the oral chemo and fortunately, has yet to lose her hair.

She had to have surgery to remove the cancer but by November 2016, her doctors were watching another spot on her lung. Another surgery was performed in February 2017.

Although Fontenot appears well on the outside, she said the cancer continues to spread.

“In November 2017, a spot was found on my liver,” she said. “From December 2018 through May of the next year, doctors treated me with Keytruda, which surprisingly made the tumor grow.”

Fontenot said the tumor was now the size of a lime and her doctor decided to treat it with ablation in June 2018.

“They burned the tumor and it was very painful,” she said. “I then started another treatment called Ippy which had hard side effects each time.”

She said she only completely three of the four prescribed treatments.

Yet another spot was discovered on her liver, she said.

“In June 2018 another ablation was necessary to remove it,” said Fontenot. “In January 2019 I started another treatment called Opdivo every four weeks. In April, a new spot showed up on my liver. I had chemo beads inserted into two vascular arteries to stop the blood flow to the tumor.”

Fontenot said she believes all of these treatments and pain could have been avoided by simply protecting herself from harmful UV exposure.

“I loved the sun and water,” she said. “Back then, there was nothing about skin cancer or melanoma. I didn’t know what it was then but now I do.”

Fontenot also used tanning beds and she said she tanned a lot.

“I knew there was some kind of chance of skin cancer but I ignored it and thought it would not happen to me.”

Fontenot said she now tries to spread awareness all year long, not only in July.

“If I can reach just one person that tells me they don’t tan anymore or they are more cautious in the sun, that is one more life saved.”

Fontenot also advises that people who do manicures and pedicures on a regular basis to check fingernails, toenails and the bottom of feet because the light used is a UV light.

“If people do spend a lot of time out in the sun or use tanning beds, I suggest they see a dermatologist at least once a year,” she said. “Go get checked out. Be aware of your skin.”

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends covering your skin to shield the skin from harmful effects of sun exposure. Experts also recommend using the right sunscreen and the right amount of sunscreen, reapplying it often.