Rutgers University | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | Pesticide User Responsibility

December 6, 2023

Free Skin Cancer Screenings to be Offered at 2024 NJ Agricultural Convention and Trade Show

The nature of agricultural work demands farmers spend long hours outdoors in direct sunlight, which increases their risk of developing skin cancer. Prevalence of skin cancer among the agricultural community has prompted Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the Vegetable Growers Association of NJ to partner with ScreenNJ to offer no-cost skin cancer screenings to farmers who register for the convention and also sign up separately for this screening opportunity.

These screenings will take place at the upcoming New Jersey Agricultural Convention and Trade Show at Harrah’s Resort and Waterfront Conference Center located at 777 Harrah’s Blvd. in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Appointments for skin cancer screenings will be available on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Screenings will take place in the ScreenNJ ‘LifeSaver’ Mobile Health Unit RV in the parking lot just outside the trade show.

Advanced registration before the convention is strongly recommended, as time slots are very limited. There may only be a few times available for same-day registration at the convention. Screening time is estimated to be 20 minutes per person, so please keep this in mind as you plan your trip to the convention. As a reminder, the agenda for the educational sessions at the convention and general registration information are available at https://vganj.com/registration. The skin cancer screening opportunity is a separate registration. Follow these steps to register in advance for a skin cancer screening at this event: ·

  1. Visit https://screennj.gomohealth.care/patient/enroll/
  2. Select your preferred language
  3. Click “I would like to register for a mobile health unit event” then select “February 7, 2024 | Agricultural Convention | Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm” from the drop-down menu and click “Next”
  4. Complete the contact and demographic information page then click “Next”
  5. Complete the medical history page then click “Enroll”
  6. After enrolling, a Patient Navigator or Regional Coordinator from ScreenNJ will contact you to schedule your appointment for a time on Wednesday, February 7th

If you have any questions, please contact Kate Brown, Program Associate in Commercial Agriculture with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County, at kbrown@njaes.rutgers.edu.

ScreenNJ Mobile Van

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: ,
July 25, 2022

Skin Cancer and Farmers

Skin cancer is the single most common cancer in the United States and the rising number of incidents is staggering: 5.4 cases in 3.3 million people in 2012, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation. More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than all other cancers combined.

Farmers, livestock producers and agriculture industry personnel are part of core skin cancer statistics related to outdoor work, consistently ranking highest in overall sun exposure. Farmers are in one of the most high-risk skin cancer categories. Most farmers work in direct sun often for seven days per week and at the sunniest times of the year.

Types of Skin Cancer
The three most typical skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Of the three, basal cell is the most common and often found on the face, neck, ears, scalp, nose, and shoulders. Caught early, the cure rate is almost 100%. Basal rarely spreads and the risk of metastasis is less than 0.5%.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer, and although relatively simple to cure when caught early, can be highly aggressive if unchecked. Over 1,000,000 SCC cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S., resulting in approximately 15,000 deaths. SCC can look like psoriasis and is an underestimated tumor. If left unchecked SCC can get into lymph nodes or other organs and cause death. SCC can be more aggressive than commonly thought. SCC is more common in persons with dark pigment skin, like those who tan easily, but darker skin doesn’t mean you’re protected.

Melanoma ranks as the rarest, but most serious form of skin cancer, causing 9,000 deaths per year. It is typically highly aggressive and can pop up anywhere on the body, even on areas with no sun exposure: palms, soles, genitalia, eyes, navel, or inside the mouth.

As with any cancer, early detection increases survival rate. The earlier you catch melanoma, the shallower it will be on the skin’s surface. Generally, a thin melanoma kills 2% to 5% of people, but the numbers go to 80% of people dying for a deep melanoma.

What does melanoma skin cancer typically look like? It may look like an asymmetrical dark spot, usually larger than 6 mm diameter with jagged borders, color variation, and changes in appearance. A five-letter (A-E) framework provides a general melanoma description. A = asymmetry; B = border irregularity; C = color variation; D = diameter over 6mm; and E = evolution or change.

Keep in mind, there are melanoma that don’t fit that pattern. You can have spots that don’t correspond to the chart and still be melanoma. If you’ve got a new mole that’s changing and catches your eye, just get it checked.

Preventative Measures:

Wear Light-Colored Clothing

Since farmers spend a great deal of time working outdoors, it’s important for them to understand the many ways to protect their skin so that they can reduce their chances of developing skin cancer. Clothing protection is most important in protecting the skin.

Hats can protect the most vulnerable head and neck areas from the sun’s rays. While baseball-type caps will protect the top of the head, they don’t protect other important areas including the ears, nose, and neck. Farmers should wear wide-brimmed hats. The recommendation is to wear a hat that has at least a 4-inch brim. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants can help to protect the arms and legs.

Wearing tightly woven lightweight and light-colored fabric can keep the body cooler in the sun and will protect against cancer-causing rays. There are many companies that manufacture high-quality sun-protective clothing.

Choose Waterproof Sunscreen – Even on Cloudy Days

Applying sunscreen every day to exposed skin can help prevent skin cancer. Don’t reserve the use of sunscreen only for sunny days. Even on a cloudy day, up to 80 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can pass through the clouds. Sunscreen should be applied to dry skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors.

When using sunscreen, be sure to apply it to all exposed areas, and pay particular attention to the face, ears, hands and arms. Coat the skin liberally and rub it in thoroughly – most people apply only 25% to 50% of the recommended amount of sunscreen. One ounce, enough to fill the palm of your hand, is considered a good amount needed to cover the exposed areas of the body properly. Don’t forget that lips get sunburned, too. Apply a lip balm that contains sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.

Be sure to dispose of outdated sunscreen, as it will have lost its effectiveness. Reapply sunscreen frequently during the day and at least every two hours. There are so many types of sunscreen that selecting the right one can be confusing. Sunscreens are available in many forms, including ointments, creams, gels, lotions, sprays and wax sticks. The type of sunscreen you choose is a matter of personal choice. Creams are best for individuals with dry skin, but gels are preferable in hairy areas, such as the scalp or male chest. Roll on or rub on Sticks are good around the eyes and other facial areas. Creams typically yield a thicker application than lotions and are best for the face. Spray-on sunscreen should be rubbed on the skin immediately after spraying to coat the skin evenly.

Ideally, sunscreens should be water-resistant, so they cannot be easily removed by sweating or when in the water, and should have a high SPF number (at least SPF 30) that provides broad-spectrum coverage against both UVA and UVB light.

Scheduling Daily Tasks and Shade

Although working outdoors when the sun is less intense, before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m., may not be feasible, sometimes rescheduling chores where exposure is lessened can be achieved. Even though the sun may be less intense in the morning and late afternoon, damage to the skin is still possible and sunscreen is recommended. Seeking shade may have obstacles but creating shade where you work with an umbrella or pop-up tent is a great idea. We often see more non-cab tractors with a canopy or umbrella to protect the operator from exposure to the elements.

Conclusion:

It’s never too late to protect yourself from the sun and minimize your future risk of skin cancer. Understanding how to best protect your skin from the sun can help prevent melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer as well as other skin cancers. Early detection is key – so get checked at least annually by a doctor and especially if you see something suspicious on your skin.

Resources:

The Skin Cancer Foundation https://www.skincancer.org/

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With:
August 10, 2021

Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer Precautions in Agriculture

We all want to be healthy and it is important to take measures to prevent illness and injuries. Everyone, especially farmers need to be cautious about their exposure to the ultraviolet rays (UV) of the sun. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States and is related to repeated exposure to the sun which causes damaging changes to a person’s skin. The two types of ultraviolet rays most likely to damage a person’s skin and increase the risk for developing skin cancer are Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB).


No one is immune to the sun’s UV rays; however, some skin types are more susceptible than others. People with blonde or red hair, fair skin, or freckles tend to get sunburned more quickly than others and should be even more vigilant about protecting themselves from the sun.
Skin damage builds up over the years, and once the damage has occurred, it cannot be reversed.


Risks of Sun Exposure:
One of the main health concerns of sun exposure is skin cancer. In the United States, one in five people will develop skin cancer. Contact your physician if you notice a difference in your skin or changes in moles regarding asymmetry, border, irregularities, color, or size.
The three main types of skin cancer are basal, squamous, and melanoma. Basal and squamous cancers are typically associated with long-term exposure to the sun but are seldom fatal. Melanoma can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early and can affect people of all ages. When examining your skin for melanoma, look for changes in the size, shape, and color of existing moles and discolored patches of skin that may start small and grow.


Recommendations:
The following recommendations can reduce an agricultural producer’s risk of sun exposure, skin cancer, and other sun-induced conditions:


Sun Intensity – Exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays is most intense between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. When possible, avoid working in direct sunlight during this time. If you must be in the sun during these hours, take shade breaks to reduce exposure, drink plenty of water, and reapply sunscreen at least every two hours.


Sunscreen – Sunscreens have one or more chemicals that absorb or disperse ultraviolet rays. Sun protection factor (SPF) is a numerical rating that indicates a specific amount of protection. You should wear a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15, but those with fair skin should use an SPF of 30 or higher. Due to exposure to water, weather, and perspiration, you should reapply sunscreen at least every two hours.


Clothing – Long-sleeved shirts and long pants provide protection from the sun’s rays. Darker clothing with a tight weave provides more protection from the sun than light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Special SPF or UV-resistant clothing is available to reduce exposing your skin to the UV rays.


Hats – When it comes to sun protection, not all hats are created equal. You should wear a wide-brimmed (minimum of three inches wide) hat with flaps or drapes to provide sun protection for your eyes, ears, and neck.


Information adapted from: Sun exposure and agriculture. (2012) Farm and Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) Community of Practice. Retrieved from http://www.extension.org/pages/63042/sun-exposure-and-agriculture.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: , ,