ACS CAN Applauds House Vote

BOSTON – January 27, 2016 – The Massachusetts House of Representatives today approved Senate Bill 1994, which prohibits the use of indoor tanning devices by minors under the age of 18. The legislation had previously received unanimous support in the Senate. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) supported the measure and worked with lawmakers and public health groups including Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts Public Health Association and the Melanoma Foundation of New England, among others, to advocate for the bill’s passage.

“The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is extremely pleased that the House of Representatives has taken a major step in protecting Massachusetts youth from the deadly effects of skin cancer by voting in support of this indoor tanning bill,” said Marc Hymovitz, Massachusetts director of government relations for ACS CAN.

“We applaud members of the House and Senate for supporting this legislation and thank Senator Timilty and Representative Decker for their leadership on this important issue. We encourage Governor Baker to sign this lifesaving bill when it reaches his desk.”

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with more than 2 million cases being diagnosed annually. In Massachusetts this year, an estimated 1,310 people will be diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Avoiding exposure to ultraviolet radiation is the most effective way to prevent skin cancer. This is especially true for kids.

Young people under the age of 18 are at a particularly high risk for the damages associated with UV radiation and exposure, since their skin is not fully developed and their skin cells are dividing and changing more rapidly than those of adults. In fact, indoor tanning use before the age of 35 increases melanoma risk by 59 percent.

“The research is clear – tanning devices cause cancer. By supporting this bill to protect our kids from the UV radiation emitted by these devices, Massachusetts lawmakers are working to prevent future skin cancer diagnoses and save lives,” said Hymovitz.

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.