Good News Black Women: Our Incidence of Skin Cancer is less than 0.5% ...Why Isn't the Media Reporting This? (204 hits)
White people had the highest incidence rate for melanoma of the skin. Hispanic people had the second highest incidence of getting melanoma of the skin, followed by Asian/Pacific Islander people. White people were more likely to die of melanoma of the skin than any other group. Hispanic people had the second highest rate of deaths from melanoma of the skin, followed by people who are Asian/Pacific Islander and black.
Statistics/Incidence Trends In the United States, incidence of melanoma of the skin has
increased significantly among white men by 2.9% per year from 1996 to 2005. increased significantly by 3.5% per year from 1996 to 2005 among white women.
Mortality Trends
In the United States, deaths from melanoma of the skin have remained level from 1990 to 2005 among white men and women
Basic Information Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types of skin cancer—basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas—are highly curable. However, melanoma, the third most common skin cancer, is more dangerous, especially among young people. Approximately 65%–90% of melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light or sunlight.1
Risk Factors People with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop skin cancer. Risk factors vary for different types of skin cancer, but some general risk factors are having:1 3 4
A lighter natural skin color. Family history of skin cancer. A personal history of skin cancer. Exposure to the sun through work and play. A history of sunburns early in life. Skin that burns, freckles, reddens easily, or becomes painful in the sun. Blue or green eyes. Blond or red hair. Certain types and a large number of moles.
Risk Reduction The best way to prevent skin cancer is to protect oneself from the sun.1 4 When used consistently, sun-protective practices can reduce a person's risk of developing skin cancer.
CDC recommends easy options for sun protection:1
Seek shade, especially during midday hours (10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.), when UV rays are strongest and do the most damage. Cover up with clothing to protect exposed skin. Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck. Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible. Rub on sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection. Tanning beds and sunlamps emit ultraviolet rays that are as dangerous as those from the sun and, therefore, should be avoided. As of April 2008, at least 28 states had passed legislation governing the use of tanning facilities by minors.5 Source for trend data: Jemal A, Thun MJ, Ries LA http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/
{ I want to know why we don't hear about the statistics on this and why the stats stop in the year 2005? Perhaps there is a good reason, but no one seems to be talking. Lol }
