Many times, a lack of education and communication can have detrimental consequences. For example, there are some incidents where one might unknowingly make a mistake, but by the time they realize the problem, it is too late to fix it. In Lord of the Flies, the author, William Golding, tells a riveting story about a group of young boys who feel that they are invincible and have the freedom to do what they want. This leads them into great trouble, and even death. Similarly, a concept in the real world can also be seen when considering the use of tanning beds by teenagers. Tanning beds have become extremely popular among teens, who do not realize the dangers of tanning and ultimately leads to malignant skin cancer. …show more content…
Hochman tells the story of a pediatrician named Jessica Lilley, who had developed malignant melanoma after years of using tanning beds. She did not realize the impact of using tanning beds until later on in her life when she was diagnosed with skin cancer. It is noted that "five to 10 minutes (depending on the equipment) in a tanning bed is roughly equivalent to a half-hour in the sun on a mid-July afternoon"(Hochman). This is a great comparison because it shows how much stronger tanning beds can be. Tanning beds are a huge risk, especially to those who are of a young age. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, "Nearly 70 percent of tanning salon patrons are Caucasian girls and women primarily between the ages of 16 and 29, and of the 28 million people who tan indoors every year, 2.3 million are teenagers." Similar to Jessica Lilley's experience, I also have a history of skin cancer. It is extremely important for me to prevent sunburn at all costs. Personally, getting sunburn on my back mutated the cells in a few of my moles, resulting in me needing to get them removed. I regularly visit the dermatologist to keep track of my moles. If a mole changes in shape, color, or size, it is highly recommended that the mole is biopsied and tested for cancer. It is very easy to develop skin cancer if the skin is not protected under harsh UV rays; thus, it is super important for people to regularly check their skin and protect it from the sun. Overall, many underage teenagers are unaware of the harsh effects of tanning beds, which is why it is so important that teens are educated early on in their