Skin Cancer Awareness and Sun Safety

July 5, 2022

The New York City District Council of Carpenters Welfare Fund (the “Welfare Fund”) is concerned about your and your family’s health and wants to ensure you are armed with information on how to protect yourselves from preventable skin cancer. This July, we encourage you to be sun smart and follow best practices, courtesy of MSK Direct, when you’re active outside on both sunny and cloudy days.

Be Sun Smart

• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more at least 20 minutes before going outside. 
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours and right after swimming, toweling off, or sweating. 
• Wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeve shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses.
•  Avoid the sun from 10am to 2pm when the sun’s rays are strongest. 
• When outdoors, consider a shaded location, rather than being in the direct sunlight. 
• Do not use indoor tanning beds. 

Take Action

Skin self-exams should be done every month using a mirror. Start at the top of your head or the bottom of your feet and go over your entire body, including your back and ears. The ABCDE method (Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolution) is a good guide to help you identify new or changing suspicious spots or moles. Please click the flyer for more detailed information. 

Please be reminded that the Welfare Fund has a partnership with MSK Direct to provide members and your families the highest-quality cancer programs and services, virtually or in-person, to help navigate your unique journey of screening and prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and life beyond cancer.

If you or a family member are impacted by cancer and would like to discuss treatment options at MSK, call the dedicated MSK Direct phone line for NYCDCC participants and dependents at (844) 386-3368 or visit www.mskcc.org/nycdcc.