Some Like It Hot
Alright guys, summer is heading our way and we all know what that means, time to get ready for the heat!
We had a surprisingly mild winter (thank God!) and that is leading a lot of laypeople to speculate that we’re in for an extremely hot summer season this year. Am I a fan of the summer? Yes… and no. I love the freedom that summer often brings. I do enjoy sunny days without a cloud in the sky that have a nice breeze, but if I had to choose between 90-degree heat and 75-degree pleasantry, I’m going with the latter.
Yes, I’ve already discussed in a previous blog post that the autumn is my favorite time of the year and that if I could move somewhere where it’s always 70 outside (San Diego, I believe is the current front runner) I would. Still, I do enjoy being in the sun, and even more so when compared to the dreary winter. However, and this isn’t to be taken lightly, skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the United States and younger people especially need to be careful.
According to the National Cancer Institute, melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common form of cancer for young people 15-29 years old, at least as of 2006. Skin cancer ironically is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer; beginning with the clothing we wear. I don’t mean to frighten anyone and use statistics to manipulate your actions, but I do want to bring about some awareness on this topic, as most tend to brush it off.
Granted, you can contract melanoma and/or other forms of skin cancer year round, but the summer is obviously the most concentrated time of year with exposure to the intense UV rays that lead to skin cancer. Most people are familiar with basics such as that the sun is strongest between 10 AM and 4 PM, sunglasses reduce the risk of ocular damage, you should wear sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 or greater and reapply every few hours. However, here are some interesting tidbits that the average person most likely does NOT know:
• Wet clothing offers less sunscreen protection than dry clothing.
• Wearing DARKER colors actually blocks more UV rays than lighter colored clothing. (Lighter colors make you feel cooler by not absorbing as much heat but actually absorb more harmful UVA and UVB radiation).
• Although more common in Caucasians, people of ANY ethnic/racial background can be affected by skin cancer. In fact, people with naturally darker skin often are at a disadvantage in early detection and are not diagnosed until the skin cancer has manifested to advanced stages.
• Tanning salon beds emit doses of both UVA and UVB rays that can be as much as 15 times that of the sun.
So there. I’m stepping off my soapbox and you probably will not hear another post from me about prevention of any kind again. I do have a personal investment though in some education as I have lost several close family members to different kinds of cancer. Knowledge is power. Below are some links to other sites with more information.
www.cdc.gov
www.skincancer.org
www.healthcentral.com
www.dermatology.ucsf.edu
Bleyer A, O’Leary M, Barr R, Ries LAG (eds): Cancer epidemiology in older adolescents and young adults 15 to 29 years of age, including SEER incidence and survival: 1975-2000. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2006.
School Days
Hey everyone! Yes, I know it has been quite a while since my last blog post! I’m sorry! It has been so crazy the past few months that I haven’t had any time to sit down and really come up with something I was proud of putting out there. I had started a few times but I couldn’t find a right ending to any of them. Updating the blog is really a big task in of itself and working on the massive curriculum at Parables & Books as well as my night job didn’t leave me with much time for blogging, unfortunately.
I have always been a huge nerd totally own that aspect of myself. Every summer, I could never wait to be back in school again. I just have always loved being in the classroom setting, even as a young child. My love for academics did not wane in college either. I just love to learn. Whether it’s about new concepts, revisiting old concepts or most importantly being able to draw connections between various ideas, I cannot get enough. My biggest life goals and achievements have always seemed to revolve around school. I am going back to school!
I am very excited to announce that I have been accepted to a program to get my Masters in Spanish Linguistics. I previously had applied last year for a PhD in linguistics but was not accepted into any program. But this just goes to show you that you should never give up hope! Looking to audit a few classes, I came across NYU in Madrid, which offered a brand new program for linguistics. It could not have come at a better time in my life. To go to Spain for one year and receive my masters is simply perfect. I am so excited.
While I cannot wait to begin, it wont exactly be easy to leave. In fact, it will be very difficult to leave behind my little niece. I am going to miss her and the rest of my family so much, but thanks to Skype and other modern technology, I will still be able to see her as she continues to grow and change daily. Also, leaving behind the two jobs that I’ve held for the past year will not exactly be easy, as I’ve changed so much as a result of working them. However, I know I need to do this for myself. What better way to grow and since I love to travel this really is the right time and place.
Comments
Jessica April 02, 2012 at 07:57 PM
I’m gonna miss u MAteo!! congrats!