Promote Childhood Skin Cancer Education & Prevention
We urge the 2015-16 U.S. House of Representatives in the 114th Congress to pass H.Res.854, introduced 9/9/16 and referred to Energy and Commerce & Education and the Workforce committees. This simple House resolution is for the stated purpose of: "Supporting State, local, and community initiatives to encourage parents, teachers, camp counselors, and child-care professionals to take measures to prevent sunburns in the minors they care for, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that State, local, and community entities should continue to support efforts to curb the incidences of skin cancer beginning with childhood skin protection."
This is a public health crisis, the increasing scourge of skin cancer -- especially among young people. More than 3 million American men, women and children are diagnosed with skin cancer every year, with total cases in recent decades exceeding that of all other cancers combined. Its deadliest form, melanoma, takes another life every 52 minutes, with more than 75,000 new cases expected in 2016. And since 1975, Melanoma rates in children, teens and young adults have skyrocketed more than 250%.
The crisis is real -- and eminently solvable. The challenge is clear. Together, we need to do more to raise skin cancer prevention and sun safety awareness in our children, schools and local communities -- while also promoting the critical importance of early detection and treatment for those who do fall victim to the disease.
Passage of House Resolution H.Res.854 can only help.
This is a public health crisis, the increasing scourge of skin cancer -- especially among young people. More than 3 million American men, women and children are diagnosed with skin cancer every year, with total cases in recent decades exceeding that of all other cancers combined. Its deadliest form, melanoma, takes another life every 52 minutes, with more than 75,000 new cases expected in 2016. And since 1975, Melanoma rates in children, teens and young adults have skyrocketed more than 250%.
The crisis is real -- and eminently solvable. The challenge is clear. Together, we need to do more to raise skin cancer prevention and sun safety awareness in our children, schools and local communities -- while also promoting the critical importance of early detection and treatment for those who do fall victim to the disease.
Passage of House Resolution H.Res.854 can only help.
View Comments