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♦ FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2007 10A Early melanoma detection key Special to the Journal Recent research shows that when detected early, the survival rate for patients with melanoma is nearly 99 percent. However, the research also shows that survival rates may be as low as 15 percent if the disease is not detected in its early stages. Regular skin checks are a simple and easy way to catch skin cancer before it is too late. “After the summer, when people might have expe rienced sun damage, is a good time to visit a der matologist to get a skin exam,” says Perry Robins, MD, President of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “Most people don’t realize that an annual visit to a dermatolo gist should be a part of their regular health routine - just like getting a yearly physi cal.” In addition to an annu al professional total-body skin examination, The Skin Cancer Foundation recom mends monthly skin self exams. Studies have shown that the majority of melano mas are spotted by patients. In fact, they may detect melanoma more than twice as often as physicians do. Research has shown that Good night sleep requires game plan By DR. AMY BLANCHARD MCG Sleep Disorders Center You order an after-din ner coffee, then stay up late watching Letterman. You try to sneak in a nap to catch up, but still, fatigue is your faithful friend all day long. Then the cycle begins all over again. We all love a good night’s sleep, but it can be elusive. Keep the tossing and turn ing at bay by following these tips: Don’t nap. You may think you’re helping your body catch up, but that’s a myth. Taking a quick nap may help you feel a little more awake in the short term, but in the long term, it actually affects your nighttime sleep ing, causing you to wake more often. Don’t sleep in on the week ends. By going to sleep and 1 ■ 1 1 -W I 1 ' 1 ■ » ■v • I .« ; I * Getting you back in the game. fc, skin self-exams can lead to 42 percent fewer deaths. Combined with a yearly skin exam by a doctor, a self-exam is the best way to detect the early warning signs of skin cancer. The key is to look for any new growths or skin changes. Here’s how: Gather a bright light; a full-length mirror; a hand mirror; two chairs or stools and a blow-dryer. ■ 1. Examine head and face, using one or both mir rors. Use a blow-dryer to inspect scalp. ■ 2. Check hands, front and back, including nails. In a full-length mirror exam ine elbows, arms and under arms. ■ 3. Focus on neck, chest, and torso. Women: check under breasts. ■ 4. With back to mirror, use a hand mirror to inspect back of neck, shoulders, upper arms, back, buttocks, legs. ■ 5. Sitting down on one chair with leg propped up on the other, check legs and feet, including soles, heels, and nails. Use hand mirror to examine genitals. The warning signs: ■ A skin growth that increases in size and appears pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black or multi-col waking up at the same time every day, you train your body to know when it’s time to sleep, therefore improv ing sleep quality.« Work out. It makes sense that tiring out your body will help improve sleep. As a bonus, physical activity will also improve your overall health. Aim for a good seven to eight hours every night. Just as we budget time for dinner, working out or time with friends, we need to budget time for sleep. Seven to eight hours of sleep are rec ommended for better body function. Wind down at nighttime. Save the coffee for breakfast, turn off the TV and make sure your bedroom is a rest ful environment for sleep. Regulate the temperature so you’re comfortable, and if noise is a problem, soften it with curtains or shutters, or Saturday Sports Injury Clinic Beginning August 25th 8:30 am - 11:30 am Open to all middle and high school students Staffed by Houston Healthcare’s certified Athletic Trainers and physicians on staff at Houston Medical Center and Perry Hospital Services provided at no charge A 1 tlmili'rrtN MHAITHOAItI Pavilion Rehabilitation Center 2.33 North Houston Road • Warner Robins • 923-2931 ored ■ A mole, birthmark, beauty mark or any brown spot that: ■ changes color ■ increases in size or thickness ■ changes in texture ■ is irregular in outline ■ is bigger than 6 mm (1/4 inch), the size of pencil eraser ■ appears after age 21 ■ A spot or sore that con tinues to itch, hurt, crust, scab, erode or bleed ■ An open sore that does not heal within three week Remember to be mindful of time spent in the sun, make sure to use an SPF 15 sun screen or higher every day and follow The Skin Cancer Foundation’s other preven tion tips at www.skincancer. org or call 1-800-SKIN-490. The first organization in the U.S. that committed itself to educating the public and medical professionals about sun safety, The Skin Cancer Foundation is still the only global organization solely devoted to the prevention, detection and treatment of skin cancer. The mission of the Foundation is to decrease the incidence of skin can cer through public and pro fessional education and research. soft music. If all else fails, contact a specialist. If your fatigue con tinues to affect your day-to day activities, you may want to contact a sleep specialist to see if a sleep disorder is interrupting the quality of your sleep. Sleep apnea, or an interruption in breathing during sleep, is one of the most common sleep disor ders, but many people don’t realize they suffer from it until they undergo a sleep study. When seeking help, look for an accredited center that specializes in sleep. For example, the MCG Sleep Disorders Center is the only facility in the region accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Sleep doesn’t have to be elusive. By improving sleep habits and getting help if needed, you can finally catch all the zzzz’s you need. 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