TRICARE Covers Skin Cancer Screenings

In May beneficiaries start spending more time outdoors, but it’s important to protect exposed skin from the sun. May is Skin Cancer and Prevention month and TRICARE reminds all beneficiaries to take precautions when outside enjoying the sunshine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. There are three main types: melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma are often found in older people with body parts exposed to the sun or weakened immune systems. These types of cancer are highly treatable, with more than 1 million cases of these two cancers diagnosed each year and fewer than 1,000 deaths.

Melanoma is the third most common skin cancer and the most dangerous. Melanomas arise from skin cells that make pigment-coloring. They can also begin in a mole, eye or intestines, and other types of tissue that have pigment.

Frequently the first sign of melanoma is a change to the shape, color, size or feel of an existing mole. Basal and squamous cancers are usually identified by a change on the skin, such as a growing bump having a rough, scaly surface and flat reddish patches. Skin cancer is typically not painful. Not all of these signs are present in every case of skin cancer. It’s important a mole or lesion be evaluated by a primary care provider.

TRICARE beneficiaries can use the National Institutes of Health “ABCDE” skin guide, which helps look for irregular changes in skin and existing moles:

• Asymmetry-the shape of one half the mole doesn’t match the other half
• Border-outline that is irregular; ragged, notched or blurred
• Color-shades of black, brown and tan and other areas white, gray, pink or blue
• Diameter-change in size (usually larger)
• Evolving-skin changes over weeks or months

Beneficiaries who are concerned about their skin can get screenings with TRICARE Prime, Standard and Extra. TRICARE covers skin cancer screenings for individuals with family or personal history of skin cancer, increased occupational or recreational exposure to sunlight, and clinical evidence of lesions. Beneficiaries should speak with their primary care manager or health care provider for more information on getting skin cancer screenings.

TRICARE encourages beneficiaries to protect and screen skin to avoid potential problems from the sun. For more information on skin cancer screenings, visit www.tricare.mil/mybenefit or skin cancer information at www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin.