Who knew one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70? That more than two people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour? Or having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma?
These facts are just a few in a long list of warnings from the Skin Cancer Foundation; and since May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Month, now is a good time to consider preventative care. It’s time to get a skin test to make sure you have no cancerous lesions.
Tina Moussally MPAS-PA-C, is a dermatology provider who has been in the skin care business for 19 years, practicing in California, on Maui in Hawaii—and now in St. George. She takes the warnings from the foundation seriously, and sees as her mission the need to encourage everyone to have a skin test to rule out melanoma and skin cancer.
She says: “Here in southern Utah, most of us are in the sun 300-plus days a year. And because we love to be out of doors, we are at risk of having skin problems.”
She has learned Utah has some of the highest melanoma cases in the U.S., with St. George having the most in the state. She cautions people who have a history of indoor tanning, because it increases the risk of developing basal cell carcinoma before age 40 by 69%.
Tina tells how she has seen people with basal cell carcinoma lose their eyesight. She has seen people with squamous cell carcinoma die.
“These types of cancer when caught early are treatable, but urgent medical attention is recommended when discovered.
Tina has been told she has a “gift” for working with her patients. She has been referred to as the “melanoma whisperer,” because of her ability to quickly diagnose and treat melanoma cancer growths.
Tiina adds, “I love what I do. It’s not really work for me, because I believe in working from my heart.”
Tina Moussally graduated from California State University, Bakersfield, with a degree in biology, pre-med, and completed a master’s degree in physician assistant studies at Western University of Health Sciences. Her company, Derm Haven, is located at 78 N. 100 W., St. George. Tel. 435.695.8585. For more information, visit dermhaven.com.