Diagnosis
To protect your skin: Here is a Guide to Community Preventive Services which recommends community-wide programs that combine education, mass media campaigns, and policy changes to increase skin protection.
www.thecommunityguide.org/cancer/index.html
Brochure is attached
Preventing Melanoma
Communities play a vital role
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in
the US. In 2011, there were more than 65,000 cases
of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Melanoma can spread to other parts of the body and causes over 9,000 deaths every year. People who die of melanoma lose an average of 20 years of life expectancy. Melanoma can be caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sun or sources such as indoor tanning. Without additional prevention efforts, melanoma will continue to increase in the next 15 years. Communities and policy makers play a major role in these skin cancer prevention efforts.
Communities and policymakers can:
◊ Increase shade at playgrounds, public pools, and other public spaces.
◊ Promote sun protection in recreation areas, including the use or purchase of hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
◊ Encourage employers, childcare centers, schools, and colleges to educate employees and students about sun safety and skin protection.
◊ Restrict the availability and use of indoor tanning by minors.
Problem Melanoma is increasing.
Melanoma skin cancer is common and costly.
◊ People of any skin color can get skin cancer and people with lighter skin are at higher risk.
◊ More than 65,000 melanoma skin cancers were diagnosed in the US in 2011.
◊ Melanoma can be disfiguring and even deadly; deaths increase with age and are higher for men than women.
◊ The annual cost for treating melanoma has grown faster than the annual treatment costs for all cancers combined.
◊ The annual cost of treating new melanoma patients is projected to triple from 2011 through 2030 (from $457 million to $1.6 billion).
◊ Using proven community skin cancer prevention programs could prevent an estimated 21,000 melanomas and save $250 million per
year by 2030.
UV exposure causes more than 90% of melanomas in the US.
◊ Tans and sunburns are the body’s response to damage from UV exposure. A tan is a sign of damaged skin.
◊ More than 1 in 3 Americans report getting sunburned every year.
◊ Indoor tanning exposes people to more intense UV rays than the sun. About 6,200 melanomas are estimated to be caused each year by
indoor tanning.
◊ Nearly 1 of 3 young non-Hispanic white women ages 16–25 uses indoor tanning each year.
To protect your skin:
Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and other protective clothing outdoors.
Find shade, especially during midday hours.
Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher regularly and reapply as directed. Sunscreen is most effective when used with other sun protection (hats, sunglasses, protective clothing, shade).
Avoid sunbathing and indoor tanning.
To protect your skin:
The Guide to Community Preventive Services recommends community-wide programs that combine education, mass media campaigns, and policy changes to increase skin protection.
www.thecommunityguide.org/cancer/index.html
What Can Be Done
Federal government is
◊ Requiring most health plans to cover recommended skin cancer prevention counseling at no out-of-pocket cost (such as co-pays or deductibles) through the Affordable Care Act.
◊ Requiring indoor tanning equipment to:
■ Meet special requirements for how these
devices are designed and made.
■ Carry visible warning: people under age 18 should not use the device.
■ Include warning statements in marketing materials about the risk of using the device.
Health care provider recommendations for skin cancer counseling
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that doctors and other health care providers counsel people ages 10–24 with fair skin about the dangers of UV rays and how to prevent skin cancer.
www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org
Communities and policymakers can
◊ Increase shade at playgrounds, public pools, and other public spaces.
◊ Promote sun protection in recreation areas, including the use or purchase of hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
◊ Encourage employers, childcare centers, schools, and colleges to educate employees and students about sun safety and skin protection.
◊ Restrict the availability and use of indoor tanning by minors.
Employers, childcare centers, schools, and colleges can
◊ Provide sun protection such as shade structures, sunscreen, and protective clothing for students and employees.
◊ Change policies that restrict sun protection, including school bans on wearing
hats outdoors.
◊ Protect workers and students by scheduling activities before or after midday hours.
◊ Relocate activities and provide structures to increase shade when possible.
◊ Discourage indoor tanning and restrict its use on campuses.
Everyone can
◊ Understand that tanned skin is damaged skin. ◊ Protect themselves and their families by:
■ Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing outdoors.
■ Finding shade, especially during midday hours.
■ Using broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, even on cloudy days. Sunscreen is most effective when used with other sun protection and reapplied as directed. http://1.usa.gov/1dGSVd2
www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/melanoma
www.cdc.gov/mmwr
◊ Avoid sunbathing and indoor tanning.
For more information, please contact
Telephone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)
TTY: 1-888-232-6348
E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
Web: www.cdc.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333 Publication date: 06/02/2015
www.thecommunityguide.org/cancer/index.html
Brochure is attached
Preventing Melanoma
Communities play a vital role
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in
the US. In 2011, there were more than 65,000 cases
of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Melanoma can spread to other parts of the body and causes over 9,000 deaths every year. People who die of melanoma lose an average of 20 years of life expectancy. Melanoma can be caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sun or sources such as indoor tanning. Without additional prevention efforts, melanoma will continue to increase in the next 15 years. Communities and policy makers play a major role in these skin cancer prevention efforts.
Communities and policymakers can:
◊ Increase shade at playgrounds, public pools, and other public spaces.
◊ Promote sun protection in recreation areas, including the use or purchase of hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
◊ Encourage employers, childcare centers, schools, and colleges to educate employees and students about sun safety and skin protection.
◊ Restrict the availability and use of indoor tanning by minors.
Problem Melanoma is increasing.
Melanoma skin cancer is common and costly.
◊ People of any skin color can get skin cancer and people with lighter skin are at higher risk.
◊ More than 65,000 melanoma skin cancers were diagnosed in the US in 2011.
◊ Melanoma can be disfiguring and even deadly; deaths increase with age and are higher for men than women.
◊ The annual cost for treating melanoma has grown faster than the annual treatment costs for all cancers combined.
◊ The annual cost of treating new melanoma patients is projected to triple from 2011 through 2030 (from $457 million to $1.6 billion).
◊ Using proven community skin cancer prevention programs could prevent an estimated 21,000 melanomas and save $250 million per
year by 2030.
UV exposure causes more than 90% of melanomas in the US.
◊ Tans and sunburns are the body’s response to damage from UV exposure. A tan is a sign of damaged skin.
◊ More than 1 in 3 Americans report getting sunburned every year.
◊ Indoor tanning exposes people to more intense UV rays than the sun. About 6,200 melanomas are estimated to be caused each year by
indoor tanning.
◊ Nearly 1 of 3 young non-Hispanic white women ages 16–25 uses indoor tanning each year.
To protect your skin:
Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and other protective clothing outdoors.
Find shade, especially during midday hours.
Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher regularly and reapply as directed. Sunscreen is most effective when used with other sun protection (hats, sunglasses, protective clothing, shade).
Avoid sunbathing and indoor tanning.
To protect your skin:
The Guide to Community Preventive Services recommends community-wide programs that combine education, mass media campaigns, and policy changes to increase skin protection.
www.thecommunityguide.org/cancer/index.html
What Can Be Done
Federal government is
◊ Requiring most health plans to cover recommended skin cancer prevention counseling at no out-of-pocket cost (such as co-pays or deductibles) through the Affordable Care Act.
◊ Requiring indoor tanning equipment to:
■ Meet special requirements for how these
devices are designed and made.
■ Carry visible warning: people under age 18 should not use the device.
■ Include warning statements in marketing materials about the risk of using the device.
Health care provider recommendations for skin cancer counseling
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that doctors and other health care providers counsel people ages 10–24 with fair skin about the dangers of UV rays and how to prevent skin cancer.
www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org
Communities and policymakers can
◊ Increase shade at playgrounds, public pools, and other public spaces.
◊ Promote sun protection in recreation areas, including the use or purchase of hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
◊ Encourage employers, childcare centers, schools, and colleges to educate employees and students about sun safety and skin protection.
◊ Restrict the availability and use of indoor tanning by minors.
Employers, childcare centers, schools, and colleges can
◊ Provide sun protection such as shade structures, sunscreen, and protective clothing for students and employees.
◊ Change policies that restrict sun protection, including school bans on wearing
hats outdoors.
◊ Protect workers and students by scheduling activities before or after midday hours.
◊ Relocate activities and provide structures to increase shade when possible.
◊ Discourage indoor tanning and restrict its use on campuses.
Everyone can
◊ Understand that tanned skin is damaged skin. ◊ Protect themselves and their families by:
■ Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing outdoors.
■ Finding shade, especially during midday hours.
■ Using broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, even on cloudy days. Sunscreen is most effective when used with other sun protection and reapplied as directed. http://1.usa.gov/1dGSVd2
www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/melanoma
www.cdc.gov/mmwr
◊ Avoid sunbathing and indoor tanning.
For more information, please contact
Telephone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)
TTY: 1-888-232-6348
E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
Web: www.cdc.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333 Publication date: 06/02/2015