Office of Air and Radiation (6205J) EPA-430-F-10-021 May 2010
Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the
United States.1"4 This fact sheet presents statistics about skin
cancer for Delaware and the United States as a whole.
just the facts: Skin Cancer in Delaware
• Sunburns. A 2004 survey found that 41.4% of white adults in Delaware had at
least one sunburn in the pastyear.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 23% higher in Delaware than the national
average from 2002-2006 and was the 9th highest in the U.S.9'10 An estimated 220 state
residents were diagnosed with melanoma in 2009.2
• Sussex County has the highest rate of new melanoma diagnoses in the state
and ranks among the highest 19% of counties nationwide.9
• Deaths from Melanoma. About 26 people in Delaware die of melanoma every
year.11 Delaware had the 14th highest melanoma death rate nationally from
2002-2006—10% higher than the U.S. average.12
• Kent County has the highest melanoma death rate in the state, 33% 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: Anna Marie Farro
In May 2006,1 noticed a skin change on my upper left arm. The area was pink and
round with no irregular borders; it looked sort of like a pimple, so I thought it was
nothing. When I went to the doctor a few months later, though, my dermatologist
decided to biopsy the spot. Shortly afterward, I received a life-changing phone call:
I had melanoma.
I couldn't believe I had cancer. At the time, I didn't know much about melanoma, but I could tell it was
serious. I had a first major surgery to remove the melanoma, and then, after a biopsy found the cancer
had spread to three of my sentinel lymph nodes, I had another surgery to remove all of my lymph nodes.
I have been "cancer-free" for almost 2 years.
Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the sun without sunscreen. Since my diagnosis, I wear sunscreen
daily and ask my family to do the same. I also volunteer to speak a bout sun safety to anyone who will
listen. Educate yourself about melanoma and protect your skin from the sun—you can help prevent
skin cancer!
Anna Marie Farro is the co-founder of Miles for Melanoma of Delaware and lives in Middletown, DE.
Annual Rate of New
Melanoma Diagnoses,
2002-2006*
All Races, Both Sexes, All Ages
Melanoma Diagnoses per Year
per 100,000 People
Q15.4 D22'9 • 24.3
Melanoma Death Rates,
2002-2006"
All Races, Both Sexes, All Ages
Melanoma Deaths per Year
per 100,000 People
• 2.7 BS.Q 13
Recycled/Recyclable—Printed with vegetable oil-based inks on 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.15
• 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).16
• For people born in 2006,1 in 53 will be diagnosed
with melanoma12—nearly 30 times the rate for
people born in 1930.17
National Annual Rate of New Melanoma Diagnoses, 2002-200618
All Races, Both Sexes, All Ages, Age-adjusted Rates
VAK\
' *^1 /&~**&±
Melanoma Diagnoses per Year per 100,000 People
Q 10.3-15.8 Q15.9-17.5 • 17.6-19.4 • 19.5-22.0 • 22.1-30.1
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.6151923
Taking simple steps as early in life as possible can reduce one's risk.2A24'25
• 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
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