00:00As sun exposure increases this time of the year, so does your risk for skin cancer.
00:05And many men don't realize they're at risk.
00:08A simple check can make all the difference.
00:11AccuEther's Jeff Cornish spoke with a man who nearly missed the warning signs
00:15and the doctor who caught it about what to watch for.
00:20Joining us now are Peter Graylin, who was diagnosed with melanoma
00:24after noticing a change in his skin,
00:26and Dr. Jane Yu, the dermatologist who identified it.
00:29They're here to talk about early warning signs, early detection,
00:32and what people should be watching for.
00:34Peter, thank you so much for making time for us.
00:36Take us back to that moment.
00:38What made you decide to get that spot checked?
00:40Well, it was pure luck, if I'm honest.
00:44Serendipity, maybe.
00:45My brother-in-law happened to be there, and he just off the cuff said,
00:48well, you've got a spot there on your calf.
00:50You should get that checked.
00:52I looked at it and thought, I don't have any history of skin problems.
00:57I had a certain sort of contemptuous neglect of my skin and didn't think anything of it.
01:05And on that Monday, I happened to go out to lunch.
01:09Lo and behold, there was a skin cancer mobile unit right there.
01:16And somehow the coincidence of the two events all played into my stepping up and this very fortuitous meeting with
01:25Dr. Yu,
01:26who took one look at the spot and said, oh, we need to get that checked.
01:31She was very certain of it.
01:32Dr. Yu, when Peter came in, what stood out to you right away?
01:35Oh, gosh, I noticed the lesion that he showed me on his right calf immediately needed a biopsy.
01:42I think it's one of those things that you have a knee-jerk reaction.
01:45You're looking at something like, this doesn't look right.
01:47And as I arrived in Johannesburg, my phone pinged and said, yes, you have a melanoma,
01:52and we need to make immediate arrangements for you.
01:56Early detection saves lives.
01:58The five-year survival rate is actually 99%, but it drops when it spreads to distant organs.
02:03For those of us who may not be professional dermatologists or medical professionals,
02:09what are some warning signs you look for as a dermatologist when you're evaluating something like this?
02:14The Skin Cancer Foundation's program keeps it simple by telling people to look for anything new, changing, or unusual on
02:21their skin.
02:22We do talk a lot about sunny days, but how much does UV exposure matter even when there are clouds
02:27in the sky?
02:28Clouds usually block 20 to 80% of UV radiation.
02:32So that means that UV can still reach you.
02:35When people are checking the AccuWeather forecast,
02:38what should they be paying attention to so they can better protect their skin day-to-day?
02:42Well, sun protection is necessary regardless of the daily UV index reading.
02:46Clothing is a strong line in defense, so make sure you wear clothing with a UPF factor of 50,
02:51a wide-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses.
02:55Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas, even on days when the UV index is low.
02:59Seek the shade during peak hours. This is from 10 to 4 when the UV index is high.
03:04But when the UV index is high, they should do what they can to seek shade
03:08or avoid spending too much time outdoors until the sun's intensity wanes.
03:14I would just urge people to think it can't happen to you.
03:18A check is very quick and very easy.
03:21Peter Graylin, so good talking to you.
03:22I'm so glad that your story worked out as it has, and we appreciate your time.
03:26Thank you very much.
03:28And as we head into the sunnier months, it's not just about watching the weather.
03:32It's about understanding your exposure.
03:34Tools like the Acculumen Brightness Index can help you track when sun intensity is highest each day.
03:41It absolutely can, Jeff.
03:43The Acculumen Brightness Index builds on that, right?
03:46Helping you better understand how bright and clear the sky will be throughout the day.
03:51It's measured on a scale from 1 to 10, from dark gray skies to bright sunshine with strong glare,
03:58so you can better plan for your day from time outdoors to dealing with glare and sun exposure.
04:04All right, here's a look at the Acculumen Brightness Index for New York City over the next three days.
04:09Starting the week, very bright for today and with plenty of sunshine tomorrow, another 9.
04:15So very bright, but clouds move in and a 2 for dark on Wednesday.
04:19Have a great day.
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