CDC: Individuals, Communities Should Take Steps to Halt Melanoma

According to the CDC, melanoma (deadly skin cancer) rates have doubled over the last 30 years. The good news is that comprehensive protection programs could prevent 20 percent of new cases between 2020 and 2030.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., and melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, leading to more than 9,000 deaths per year. More than 90 percent of melanoma skin cancers are caused by skin cell damage from UV radiation exposure. Over the past three decades, melanoma rates have skyrocketed from 11.2 per 100,000 people in 1982 to 22.7 per 100,000 people in 2011.

To help halt this trend, the CDC is recommending both individual and community prevention efforts.

Individuals should:

• Wear a hat and clothes that cover the skin while outdoors
• Seek out shade, especially in the middle of the day, when rays are most intense 
• Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen 

Additionally, the CDC is encouraging communities to: 

• Increase shade on playgrounds, at public pools and in other public spaces
• Promote sun protection in recreational areas
• Encourage employers, childcare centers, schools and college to provide education on sun safety and skin protection
• Restrict the availability and use of indoor tanning by minors 

To learn more, click here.