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Melanoma skin cancer can be
curable if treated early
Melanoma skin cancer is usually curable if it is
recognised and treated early. But if left untreated, the cancer can spread
to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and often can be
fatal. This was one of the messages from Dr. Sureeporn Sritangrattanakul, a
dermatologist at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, who spoke to the Pattaya City
Expats Club on Sunday, July 21.
MC Roy Albiston opens the
21st July meeting of Pattaya City Expats Club by inviting new members &
guests to introduce themselves.
Dr Sureeporn said that in her practice she sees many
cases of skin cancer. Further, studies have shown that one in five Americans
will develop skin cancer at some point during their lives. She also
mentioned that the figures for other parts of the world are similar.
Skin cancer comes in two forms: melanoma (which is malignant) and
non-melanoma, which, while classified as a cancer, spreads much more slowly
than the melanoma variety. Only 4-5% of skin cancers are melanoma, which is
almost always curable when found and treated early. Although melanoma
represents only a small portion of all skin cancers, Dr Sureeporn said, it
accounts for 75% of skin cancer deaths. In the US, this translates into an
estimated 8,790 deaths annually.
Non-melanoma skin cancer also comes in two forms: basal cell carcinoma
(BCC), which is the more common of the two, and which affects the lowest
layer of the skin; and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which affects the
middle layer of the skin. Dr Sureeporn said that 40-50% of Americans who
live to age 65 will have either BCC or SCC at least once; neither can evolve
into melanoma.
Speaker for the meeting was
Dr. Sureeporn Sritangrattanakul, a dermatologist at Bangkok Hospital
Pattaya. She spoke about the risk of skin cancer, how to detect it, and how
it is treated. With the slide Dr Sureeporn explained the tumour initiation
process and how it progresses.
Dr Sureeporn explained that skin cancer is the
uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells. It occurs when there is DNA
damage to skin cells that goes un-repaired. Further, that although the
incidence of skin cancer is rising, the number of deaths from it is
declining. The reason this is happening is because of better and earlier
diagnosis and treatment.
The risk factors for skin cancer include (a) genetics (runs in the family);
(b) having light skin; (c) exposure to the sun; (d) use of tanning salons;
(e) having a weakened immune system; and (f) exposure to radiation. Dr
Sureeporn said that living near the equator or at high altitudes also
increases one’s risk of getting skin cancer. But the biggest risk factor, by
far, is exposure to the sun. She also described actinic keratosis as
pre-cancerous skin growths that could potentially evolve into squamous cell
carcinoma and explained that it is caused by repeated and prolonged exposure
to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun; it typically appears as rough spots
on areas of the skin that have received sun exposure.
Alex from Australia was a lucky quiz winner, having
known the answer to ‘which skin types are most susceptible to skin cancer?’
Dr Sureeporn showed how one can distinguish melanoma from
“ordinary” growths on the skin using the ABCD method, where A =
Asymmetrical; B= uneven Borders; C = Colour variation; and D = a Diameter
greater than 6mm. She said that the warning signs for squamous cell
carcinoma include a persistent, scaly red patch with irregular borders that
sometimes crusts or bleeds; an elevated growth with a central depression
that occasionally bleeds; an open sore that bleeds, crusts and persists for
weeks; and a wart-like growth that crusts and occasionally bleeds. A warning
sign for skin cancer generally is an open sore that does not heal within two
weeks.
A demonstration and explanation of the origin and
practice of Tai Chi by Alessandro Marmello then followed.
Dr Sureeporn said that she encourages her patients to do
self-examinations of their skin. But because signs of skin cancer are often
confused with normal skin conditions, people should see a dermatologist at
least once a year for a check-up. Also, the most effective way to prevent
skin cancer is to wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or
more. Other preventive measures include staying out of the sun between 10 am
and 4 pm when UV radiation from the sun is highest; wearing a hat and
sunglasses; and covering your skin with clothes when the sun is the hottest.
In response to questions from the audience, Dr Sureeporn said that one
should still wear sunscreen on a cloudy day as UV rays penetrate clouds.
Further, being under an umbrella at the beach does not offer complete
protection because some sun rays may penetrate the umbrella; also UV rays
can bounce off the sand and water. Dr Sureeporn noted that if you spend a
lot of time driving, you should get appropriate coating for the windshield
of the car or use sunscreen. Also, that even if you wear sunscreen, your
body can still get enough sunlight to meets its Vitamin D needs.
After the presentation, Master of Ceremonies Roy Albiston updated everyone
on upcoming events and then called on Jerry Dean to conduct the Open Forum,
where questions are asked and answered and comments made about Expat living
in Thailand.
To learn more about the Pattaya City Expats Club and its many activities,
visit
www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
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Centara Grand Pratamnak Resort embraces CSR
Participants gather for a group photo
after the clean up.
Paul Strachan
The soon to be opened Centara Grand Pratamnak Resort gathered eighty of
their staff to participate in cleaning up the streets and beach areas
surrounding the hotel, which is situated near the beach between Soi Five & Six.
This is a great way of team building and also shows that they care for the
community.
The staff was divided into four teams and took to the streets and the areas
around the beach. The beach itself is immaculate as the vendors take good care
of it, but the area behind was littered with rubbish; however the teams worked
frantically and in just 30 minutes the entire area was free from litter.
Staff and guests work hard to clean
up this area of the beach.
A vote was then made on which team had collected the most and
prizes were given to the winners.
The general manager of Centara Grand Pratamnak Resort, Dominique Rongé was on
hand to keep everybody in line and he congratulated them for their efforts.
This new property, located in one of the most desirable areas of Pattaya, will
open within the next month or so and will provide an ideal place for tourists,
with an abundance of fine restaurants nearby and the beach, which thanks to the
staff is all the more attractive.
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Beauty, musical acumen come together at Miss Hard Rock 2013
Winners and judges gather on
stage for a commemorative group photo.
Phasakorn Channgam
Judges at Pattaya’s Hard Rock Hotel were looking for beauty and a deep
understanding of music history and style when they chose the hotel’s “Miss Hard
Rock 2013” at the beachfront hotel.
Different from most beauty pageants, the July 6 Miss Hard Rock contest finals
valued rocker-style clothing over swimsuits and talent in identifying song
titles and performers over singing and dancing.
Six women vied for the title in a bid to become the hotel’s public relations
ambassador for the next year and represent Thailand at the Southeast Asia Miss
Hard Rock pageant in Malaysia. After three days of competing, 23-year-old
Pornsaan Pornwapee, a Bangkok student studying Business Administration at Siam
Technological College, took the sash and 132,000 baht in prizes.
The six contestants pose outside the
Romrawin Clinic.
Budsabong Prommeang took second and 92,500 baht, followed by
Pakatida Srongprapa, winning 83,000 baht. Chotika Nithi-Athikorn won the “Miss
Rock Friendly” prize while Ploy Boonme took the “best skin” prize.
The contest followed few of the rules of traditional pageants with the first day
having contestants quizzed by judges on their musical knowledge. They also gave
background on their favorite performing artists and had to name the title and
artist of various song clips. They also put on a fashion show of rock-styled
clothing around the pool. The day wrapped with a chance for hopefuls to talk
about the Hard Rock Pattaya in public.
The second day saw contestants get back into a more-traditional mode, slipping
into swimsuits for the judges approval. They also worked more on showing off
their spokeswomanly skills.
Ploy Boonme, winner of the “best
skin” prize, looks beautiful in a swimsuit.
Suwanthep “Tony” Malhotra, Deputy MD
of Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd., presents the Ms. Rock Friendly prize to
Chotika Nithi-Athikorn.
Patrick Ng, Executive Assistant
Manager of the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, presents the 1st runner up prize to
Budsabong Prommeang.
Patrick Ng, Executive Assistant
Manager of the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, announces Ms. Hard Rock Pattaya 2013,
Pornsaan Pornwapee.
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Pattaya Sports Club and 2 members come to the aid of a family of 6
Youngsters receive their school uniforms.
William Macey
The first Pattaya Sports Club heard of the problem was when Nongprue City
Hall requested our help to provide school uniforms to four children who did not
have a complete set and were being verbally abused at school by other students.
Conveniently, 2 PSC members had made generous donations for exactly this
situation and we were able to solve the problem immediately for them.
But when handing the uniforms to the delighted children, further problems came
to our attention which were causing so many problems for the family. Parsud and
his family live in a small house (a large room actually) just off Nernplabwan
and his occupation was as a motorbike taxi driver. He managed financially, but
only just.
The mayor and staff of city hall pose around the new
motorbike and all its accessories, and thank PSC.
It is sometimes difficult to accept how events, which are beyond our control,
can affect our lives. Parsud’s father died last year. A problem presented itself
inasmuch as the motorbike belonged to his father and had to be sold so that
Parsud and his brothers could share in the amount raised. End of income! To make
matters worse, in January of this year he was hit by a speeding motorbike,
incurred serious head injuries and has been unable to work since then. No
income, has resulted in the rent not being paid and very little food on the
table.
But, you will be pleased to hear that there is a happier ending to this story.
His wife has had experience in the past selling BBQ chicken, pork and other
items from a motorbike and sidecar. So the Welfare Dept. of Nongprue City Hall
decided that something had to be done and, after a few phone calls, a solution
was found. Mityon donated a motorbike, the Lions Club the sidecar and Pattaya
Sports Club the cooking equipment, flood lights, battery and other items which
will enable his wife to travel around the area selling her various goods. City
Hall donated funds to bring their rent up to date and supply some food to tide
them over.
Both Parsud and his wife were a little overwhelmed with all the activity for, as
usual in these events, the mayor, deputy mayor, TV, newspapers and many of the
City Hall staff were present to give the family a rousing send off.
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