OU Coach Bob Stoops' Tulsa Visit Prompts Skin Cancer Reminders

University of Oklahoma Football Coach Bob Stoops had some stitches in his cheek when he made a stop in Tulsa Monday. A university official says Stoops had a growth removed and that it was not cancerous. It's being described as a minor surgical procedure.

Coach Stoops, OU women's basketball coach Sherrie Coale, men's basketball coach Lon Kruger and several student athletes made their stop in Tulsa Monday afternoon as part of an OU Caravan tour to thank loyal Sooner fans around the state.

Coaches who spend a lot of time outdoors aren't the only ones at risk for pre-cancerous lesions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.

The CDC recommends the following steps for prevention of skin cancer:

• Seek shade, especially during midday hours.
• Wear clothing to protect exposed skin.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
• Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
• Use sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.
• Avoid indoor tanning.

Learn what to watch for and how to perform a skin cancer self-exam from the National Cancer Institute.