Office of Air and Radiation (6205J) EPA-430-F-09-061 May 2009 wEPA Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the United States.1"4 This fact sheet presents statistics about skin cancer for Connecticut and the United States as a whole. small state: Big Problem • Sunburns on the Rise. A 2004 survey found that 43.1 % of white adults in Connecticut had at least one sunburn in the past year—an increase from 33.3% in 1999.5 Sunburns are a significant risk factor for the development of skin cancer.6'8 • New Cases of Melanoma. The rate of new melanoma diagnoses—responsible for 75% of all skin cancer deaths—was 31% higher in Connecticut than the national average from 2001 -2005 and was the 8th highest in the U.S.9'10 An estimated 1,060 state residents were diagnosed with melanoma in 2008.2 • New London County has the highest rate of melanoma diagnoses in the state, 79% above the national average.9 • Deaths from Melanoma. Approximately 110 people in Connecticut die of melanoma every year.11 Connecticut had the 17th highest melanoma death rate nationally from 2001 -2005—7.4% higher than the U.S. average.12 • Tolland County has the highest melanoma death rate in the state, 30% higher than the national average.11 1 41 All references can be found on the SunWise Web site at: www.epa.gov/sunwise/statefacts.html survivor story: Paul Buchanan In 1995 I had what I thought was a wart removed by my dermatologist. A week later, my doctor called to tell me I had Stage IV melanoma. The prognosis was not good: I was initially given about a year to live. Fortunately, I entered an experimental treatment program that kept the cancer in remission for the next 9 years. When a lump appeared in my leg again in 2005, tests revealed that the cancer was back and had spread to my bone marrow. I started intense lnterleukin-2 therapy, and after four brutal weeks, another biopsy found the cancer was gone. I've now been cancer-free for over three years, and my doctors believe a recurrence is unlikely. My experience with melanoma has driven home the importance of preventing overexposure to the sun. Exposure today can cause problems in the future, so parents should teach their children to always wear sunscreen. Putting on sunscreen should be second nature, just like wearing a seat belt in the car. Melanoma can be dangerous, but it is also a highly preventable cancer. Paul Buchanan, a resident of Southington, Connecticut was 35 when he was first diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma. Melanoma Death Rates, 2001-2005" All Races, Both Sexes, All Ages Melanoma Deaths per Year per 100,000 People fj2.7-2.8 fj 2.9-3.1 | 13.2-3.; Q Suppressed Data Annual Rate of New Melanoma Diagnoses, 2001-20059 All Races, Both Sexes, All Ages Melanoma Diagnoses per Year per 100,000 People 15.7-19.5 fj 19.6-23.5 [ Suppressed Data 23.6-27.4 27.5-31.3 © Recycled/Recyclable—Printed with vegetable oil-based inks on paper that contains at least 50% post-consumer fiber. ------- The Cost of Skin Cancer In the U.S., medical costs to treat skin cancer are estimated at almost $2 billion annually.13'14 statistics: Cause for Concern • In 2008, more than 1 million people were diagnosed with skin cancer, making it the most common of all cancers.1"4 More people were diagnosed with skin cancer in 2008 than with breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer combined.2 About 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime.16 • One American dies of melanoma almost every hour.2 • Melanoma is the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults (15-29 years old).17 • For people born in 2005,1 in 55 will be diagnosed with melanoma12— nearly 30 times the rate for people born in 1930.18 National Annual Rate of New Melanoma Diagnoses, 2001-2005" All Races, Both Sexes, All Ages, Age-adjusted Rates Melanoma Diagnoses per Year per 100,000 Peopl ' Please note that delays in reporting melanoma cases to cancer registries are more common since they are usually diagnosed and treated in non-hospital settings such as physician offices. States are grouped into quintiles based on rates of melanoma diagnoses. A quintile is a statistical "block" representing 20% of a total. Because data are available for only 45 states and D.C., four quintiles include nine states, and one includes 10. For example, the ten states with the highest melanoma rates—21.8 to 28.6 diagnoses per 100,000 residents every year—are in the top quintile. what works: An Ounce of Prevention • Unprotected exposure to ultraviolet light—a known human carcinogen —is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer.6161923 Taking simple steps as early in life as possible can reduce one's risk.2'4'24'25 • Early detection of melanoma can save one's life.26 32 Skin examinations may be the best way to detect skin cancer early.2'33'37 • The CDC found evidence that education and policy approaches in primary schools (for children) and in recreational or tourism settings (for adults) can improve sun safety behaviors.38 39 • Student self-reported data40—collected as part of the U.S. EPA's SunWise Program—showed that teachers using the SunWise Tool Kit for 1-2 hours yearly can spur increases in students' sun safety knowledge and attitudes and small to modest improvements in short- term sun safety behaviors.41 • Using the data mentioned above, published modeling results show SunWise teaching between 1999 and 2015 could prevent more than 50 premature deaths and 11,000 future cases of skin cancer, saving the country more than $30 million in medical costs and productivity losses.41 1~41 All references can be found on the SunWise Web site at: www.epa.gov/sunwise/statefacts.html skin cancer prevention: Action Steps • Do Not Burn. Overexposure to the sun is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer. • Avoid Sun Tanning and Tanning Beds. UV light from tanning beds and the sun causes skin cancer and wrinkling. • Use Sunscreen. Generously apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Reapply at least every two hours, and after swimming or sweating. • Cover Up. Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with 99-100% UVA/UVB protection, when possible. • Seek Shade. Seek shade when the sun's UV rays are most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. • Watch for the UV Index. Pay attention to the UV Index when planning outdoor activities to prevent overexposure to the sun. www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin www.epa.gov/sunwise ------- |