Summer is upon us and today has been designated by the American Cancer Society and the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention as “Don’t Fry Day,” to encourage sun safety awareness.  As you head outdoors this holiday weekend and throughout the summer, Don’t Fry Day is a good reminder to protect your skin from harmful UV rays by using a broad spectrum sunscreen, such as SPF 30 or higher, wearing clothing that limits the amount of skin exposed and a wide-brimmed hat, as well as sunglasses to protect your eyes and the skin around them.  While skin cancer is largely preventable, it continues to be the most common type of cancer in the United States.  The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 3.5 million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year, more than breast, lung, colon and prostate cancers combined.  In Illinois, approximately 2,380 cases of melanoma are expected to be diagnosed this year, and more than 360 patients are expected to die from the disease.  The American Cancer Society reminds you to “Slip! Slop! Slap! and Wrap” to protect yourself from harmful UV radiation.  That’s slip on a shirt, slop on broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, slap on a hat and wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around them from ultraviolet light.  An important part of sun safety is knowing what to look for and being able to identify skin cancer early.  Additionally, any change in appearance on your skin should be checked out by a medical professional.  For more information on skin cancer detection or prevention, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.