Office of Air and Radiation (6205J) EPA-430-F-10-036 August 2010
Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the
United States.1"4 This fact sheet presents statistics about skin
cancer for Iowa and the United States as a whole.
just the facts: Skin Cancer in Iowa
• Sunburns. A 2004 survey found that 43.6% of white adults in Iowa had at least
one sunburn in the pastyear.5 Sunburns are a significant riskfactor forthe
development of skin cancer.6'8
• New Cases of Melanoma. An estimated 910 state residents were diagnosed with
melanoma in 2009.2 Melanoma is responsible for about 75% of all skin cancer deaths.9'10
• Between 1975-2006, the rate of new melanoma diagnoses in Iowa has more
than tripled.9
• Hancock County has the highest rate of new melanoma diagnoses in the state,
higher than 98% of counties nationwide.9
• Deaths from Melanoma. About 82 people in Iowa die of melanoma every year.
For each year between 2002 and 2006, melanoma death rates in Iowa were the
highest among the 10 most common cancer diagnoses in the United States.11'12
Annual Rate of New
Melanoma Diagnoses,
2002-2006*
All Races, Both Sexes, All Ages
Melanoma Diagnoses per Year
per 100,000 People
Q| 12.0-17.9 Ql8.0-24.0 Q 24.1-30.1 130.2-36.1
n Data Not Available
1 42 All references can be found on the SunWise Web site at: www.epa.gov/sunwise/statefacts.html
survivor story: Terri Kruse
Growing up, I helped my father on our farm and sunburned frequently. Despite our
family's fair skin, freckles, and red hair, we didn't know about sun exposure risks
and didn't have access to sunscreen. In 1986, when I was 29 years old, I noticed an
irregularly shaped, dark mole on my back that turned out to be Stage III melanoma.
My father and his siblings were also diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancer.
About 20 years later, I noticed another skin irregularity: a small, red, wart-like bump below my collarbone.
After keeping a close eye on the bump for 3 months, I was diagnosed with a very rare form of skin cancer:
Stage V desmoplatic melanoma. Both cancers were surgically removed, and I underwent an experimental
radiation and drug treatment for my second melanoma. I have now been cancer-free for nearly 2 years.
Today, I regularly examine my skin, visit a specialist every 3 months, and my children are screened
annually by a specialist. I share my story with all who will listen and—as a school nurse—try to educate
teenagers on the dangers of sunburns and tanning beds. My advice: Seek shade during the midday sun,
wear sunscreen, and educate yourself on the signs of skin cancer!
Terri Kruse, a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, was diagnosed with melanoma at ages 29 and 51.
Melanoma Death Rates,
2002-2006"
All Races, Both Sexes, All Ages
Melanoma Deaths per Year
per 100,000 People
Recycled/Recyclable—Printed with vegetable oil-based inks on processed chlorine-free paper that contains at least 50% post-consumer fiber.
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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 2009, 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 2009 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 2009,1 in 58 will be diagnosed
with invasive melanoma18—more than 25 times the
rate for people born in 1935.19
National Annual Rate of New Melanoma Diagnoses, 2002-200615
All Races, Both Sexes, All Ages, Age-adjusted Rates
VAK\
' *^1 /&~**&±
Melanoma Diagnoses per Year per 100,000 People
D 10.3-15.8 D15-9-17.5 D™-19.* • 195-22.0 • 22.1-30.1
D Data Not Available
' 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, each quintile includes nine states. For example, the nine states with the highest
melanoma rates—22.1 to 30.1 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.6152024
Taking simple steps as early in life as possible can reduce one's risk.2"4'25'26
• Early detection of melanoma can save one's life.27"33 Skin examinations
may be the best way to detect skin cancer early.2'34~38
• 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.39 40
• Student self-reported data41—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.42
• 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.42
1~42 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
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