- Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and worldwide.
- More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined.
- 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
- More than 2 people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour.
- The main types of skin cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. [link each to definition on next page]
- About 86% of melanoma and 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure from the sun.
- Risk for melanoma doubles on average having had 5 or more sunburns, but just one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles your risk.
- Regular daily use of an SPF 15 or higher reduces the risk of developing squamous cell by about 40% as well as the risk of developing melanoma by 50%. (Sun Safety Link)
- More than 400,000 cases of skin cancer are estimated to be related to indoor tanning in the U.S. each year.
- Treatment for skin cancer costs $8.1 BILLION each year in the United States.
- Anyone can get skin cancer. Although persons with light skin and eyes are at higher risk of getting skin cancer, people with darker skin may not seek care or be diagnosed with skin cancer until a later stage, making it more difficult to treat.
- Melanoma is less common than the other types of skin cancer, but more likely to invade nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
(Source: American Cancer Society)
Some New Jersey Skin Cancer Facts:
- New cases of melanoma have risen about 5% per year among New Jersey residents from early 1990’s to 2006.
- Cape May County has the highest rate of new melanoma diagnoses in the state, while Warren County as the highest melanoma death rate in the state.
- Sunburns on the rise. A 2004 study found an increase of nearly 7% from 1999 of white adult New Jersey residents who had at least one sunburn in the past year. Sunburns are a significant risk factor for the development of skin cancer.
