WASHINGTON, D.C. September 4, 2013 The American Cancer Society and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), submitted comments today to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) commending the agency and the Office of the Surgeon General for considering a response to the public health problem of skin cancer. The comment letter calls on the administration to strengthen education and promote policy change, as evidence-based research has shown many interventions are effective at deterring youth and young adults from risky behaviors related to UV exposure, while also promoting healthy behaviors. The comments that the CDC is collecting could lead to a Surgeon General 's publication. Given what we know about the harmful effects of UV radiation from the sun and indoor tanning devices, we believe that there needs to be a much greater emphasis placed on the dangers of UV exposure through education and policy change, the letter stated. For the full comment letter, click here. The comments the CDC is collecting follow the Food and Drug Administration 's proposed order released earlier this year to reclassify tanning beds to better reflect the health dangers they pose to individuals who use them. For more information, visit this webpage.
ACS CAN is the non-profit, non-partisan advocacy affiliate organization of the American Cancer Society, which is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage lawmakers, candidates and government officials to support laws and policies that will make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Lauren Walens or Steven Weiss American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Phone: (202) 661-5763 or (202) 661-5711 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] #CDC #skincancer #tanning #ACSCAN #healthcare #UV