Health Groups Urge Lawmakers to Ban the Teen Tan on Melanoma Monday
(Trenton, NJ) (May 7, 2012) – The rate of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has increased sharply in New Jersey, according to a new analysis by the American Cancer Society. In its Cancer Brief: Melanoma and Indoor Tanning, the Society details a 43 percent increase of incidence of melanoma, which coincides with a boom in the indoor tanning industry. The American Cancer Society, AIM at Melanoma, The Dermatological Society of New Jersey, Medical Society of New Jersey, Mike Geltrude Foundation, other advocates and melanoma survivors all support the legislation that protects teens from a proven carcinogen.
“It’s no coincidence that we’re facing a melanoma crisis at the same time there’s a proliferation of indoor tanning salons,” said Ethan Hasbrouck, NJ Director of Advocacy, American Cancer Society of NY & NJ. “Indoor tanning increases risk of developing cancer. Many teens don’t see their behavior as dangerous and many parents don’t fully understand what’s at stake. That’s why the legislators must act to protect minors by enacting a ban on indoor tanning for those under age 18.”
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) places tanning beds in the highest cancer risk category - group 1 - 'carcinogenic to humans'. This puts indoor tanning in the same classification as arsenic, asbestos, benzene, dioxin, mustard gas, tobacco smoke and vinyl chloride. According to the IARC, use of indoor tanning devices before the age of 30 increases melanoma risk by 75 percent.
Alyson Dougherty, a 27-year-old melanoma survivor, knows firsthand the pain and suffering indoor tanning can cause. "Tanning beds are not safe for anyone, let alone kids and I have the scars to prove this”, said Dougherty. “When I was a teenager, I used indoor tanning often before proms and other events. I thought I was invincible. Little did I know that I would be diagnosed with skin cancer years later".
In recognition of National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Prevention Month, Dermatological Society of New Jersey conducted free Skin Cancer Screenings in the State House on Melanoma Monday, May 7th from 10am to 2pm for legislators and staff.
Data analyzed for the Cancer Brief was from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, State Cancer Registry 2011. In the 10 years between the periods 1994-1998 and 2004-2008, the age-adjusted annual incidence of melanoma increased from 15.0 percent to 21.4 percent, a 43 percent increase.
According to the American Cancer Society, 68,000 Americans will be diagnosed with Melanoma this year, including 2,430 in New Jersey. Because of the high risks associated with indoor tanning use especially at younger ages, similar legislation has been signed into law in California and Vermont.
In addition to indoor tanning, outdoor sun exposure is a risk factor for melanoma. For information on skin cancer prevention and early detection, visit the American Cancer Society website at cancer.org.
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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
After months of delay and hard negotiations, Congress has finally passed a funding bill! The bill includes a small increase for cancer research and prevention programs.