H e dutifully tackles the weekly lawn mowing, edging and working in the yard. H e quite possibly heads for the lake to get in a little fishing or boating. H e rarely ever wears a broad-brimmed hat, sunscreen or any protective clothing. With the longer, warmer, brighter days of summer lurking, men are traditionally lacking in taking the necessary steps to protect their skin from the harmful effects of the sun s rays. Blame it on indifference, ignorance or simply the perception that it won t happen to me.
Men are at a higher risk for skin cancer than women, usually because of a lack of awareness.
And golfers are some of the greatest offenders. Skin cancer accounts for roughly one-third of all cancers diagnosed in the U.S. annually, making it the most common form of cancer despite being the most preventable. Worse yet, the rate of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is doubling every 8 to 10 years. In fact, according to Dr. Rigel, the lifetime chance of getting skin cancer is now 1 in 5. Wear long pants and shirts with sleeves.