This monthly employee newsletter, plus more resources, are available 24/7 to all of our Pathways Portal online program members.  Learn more about taking your entire wellness program and incentive reward system online: Pathways Portal Online Employee Wellness Management 

May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.

Unlike most other types of cancer, skin cancer rates are increasing. Current estimates are that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Melanoma, basal cell, squamous cell and Merkel cell skin cancers have all been linked to ultraviolet radiation, according to the American Cancer Society^®. In fact, more people develop skin cancer because of tanning than developing lung cancer because of smoking. The incidence rate of melanoma – a less common, but more deadly skin cancer – has doubled from 1982 to 2011. Ultraviolet radiation comes from sun exposure and indoor tanning.

The facts about ultraviolet radiation, sun exposure, and indoor tanning.

The information below on sun exposure and indoor tanning are available along with a comprehensive list of skin cancer facts and statistics on the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website. For more information visit: skincancer.org.

• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a proven human carcinogen.
• The International Agency for Research on Cancer, an affiliate of the World Health Organization, includes ultraviolet (UV) tanning devices in its Group 1, a list of agents that are cancer-causing to humans.  Group 1 also includes agents such as plutonium, cigarettes and solar UV radiation.
• As of September 2, 2014, ultraviolet (UV) tanning devices were reclassified by the FDA from Class I (low risk), to Class II (moderate risk) devices.
• Twelve states plus the District of Columbia prohibit people younger than 18 from using indoor tanning devices: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas, and Vermont. Oregon and Washington prohibit those under 18 from using indoor tanning devices unless a prescription is provided.
  Brazil and Australia have banned indoor tanning altogether. Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom have banned indoor tanning for people younger than age 18.
  More than 419,000 cases of skin cancer in the U.S. each year are linked to indoor tanning, including about 245,000 basal cell carcinomas, 168,000 squamous cell carcinomas, and 6,200 melanomas.
• More people develop skin cancer because of tanning than developing lung cancer because of smoking.
• Those who have ever tanned indoors have a 67 percent increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma and a 29 percent increased risk of developing basal cell carcinoma.
• Those who have ever tanned indoors have a 69 percent risk of developing basal cell carcinoma before age 40.
• Individuals who have used tanning beds 10 or more times in their lives have a 34 percent increased risk of developing melanoma compared to those who have never used tanning beds.
• People who first use a tanning bed before age 35 increase their risk for melanoma by 75 percent.

Risk Factors

• Exposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet light is a risk factor for all types of skin cancer.
  • Avoiding this risk factor alone could prevent more than 3 million cases of skin cancer every year.
  • Research indicates that UV light from the sun and tanning beds can both cause melanoma and increase the risk of a benign mole progressing to melanoma.
• Increasing intermittent sun exposure in childhood and during one’s lifetime is associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
  • Even one blistering sunburn during childhood or adolescence can nearly double a person’s chance of developing melanoma.
  • Experiencing five or more blistering sunburns between ages 15 and 20 increases one’s melanoma risk by 80 percent and nonmelanoma skin cancer risk by 68 percent.   In 2010, new research found that daily sunscreen use cut the incidence of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, in half.
  • People older than 65 may experience melanoma more frequently because of UV exposure they’ve received over the course of their lives.
  • Higher melanoma rates among men may be due in part to lower rates of sun protection.
• Exposure to tanning beds increases the risk of melanoma, especially in women 45 and younger.
  • Researchers estimate that indoor tanning may cause upwards of 400,000 cases of skin cancer in the U.S. each year.
  • In females 15 to 29 years old, the torso/trunk is the most common location for developing melanoma, which may be due to high-risk tanning behaviors
  • Higher melanoma rates among young females compared to young males may be due in part to widespread use of indoor tanning among females.
• Risk factors for all types of skin cancer include skin that burns easily; blond or red hair; a history of excessive sun exposure, including sunburns; tanning bed use; immune system-suppressing diseases or treatments; and a history of skin cancer.
  • People with more than 50 moles, atypical moles, or large moles are at an increased risk of developing melanoma, as are those with light skin and freckles, and those with a personal or family history of melanoma.
  • Melanoma survivors have an approximately nine-fold increased risk of developing another melanoma compared to the general population.
• Men and women with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing melanoma than people without a nonmelanoma skin cancer history.
  • Women with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing leukemia, breast, kidney and lung cancers, and men with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

Men’s Skin Cancer Knowledge Lags Behind Women’s

Skin cancer can affect anyone, regardless of age, race or gender. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, when it comes to skin cancer prevention and detection, however, it seems that men need to brush up on their knowledge.

• From ages 15-39, men are 55 percent more likely to die of melanoma than women in the same age group?
• From age 50 on, significantly more men develop melanoma than women?
• The majority of people diagnosed with melanoma are white men over age 55?

Skin Cancer Foundation: www.skincancer.org

Did you know?

• Insect Repellants reduce sunscreen’s SPF by up to 1/3? When using a combination, use a sunscreen with a higher SPF!
• The UV Index forecast is issued each afternoon by the National Weather Service? Overexposure to the sun’s harmful rays can result in sunburns which increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
• The ability to block UV light is not dependent on the darkness of the lens or the price tag? Always choose sunglasses that are labeled as blocking 99-100% of UV rays. Some manufacturers’ labels will say “UV absorption up to 400nm.” This is the same thing as 100% UV absorption.
• The sun’s UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.? Seek the shade whenever possible.

Protect Yourself!

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers tips for protection from UV radiation:

• Stay in the shade, especially during midday hours.
• Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck.
• Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays.
• Use sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.
• Avoid indoor tanning.

More about the Pathways Portal Online Program

Incentivize & Track Employee Wellness Engagement

Pathways to SmartCare now has an easy and cost-effective solution to manage program participation, incentive tracking, and personal health goals for each group member.

Our Online Wellness Portal does the hard work for program administrators and individual members.

Learn more about taking your entire wellness program and incentive reward system online: Pathways Portal Online Employee Wellness Management 

About Pathways to SmartCare

Tailored Plans For Employee Wellness Programs

Pathways to SmartCare is the Employee Wellness Program of American HealthCare Group, a preventive services firm in Pittsburgh, PA.  American HealthCare Group designs wellness programming for corporations, school districts, municipalities and other employers.

Pathways to SmartCare designs preventive services programs for employees.  We administer biometric health screenings, immunizations, Health Fairs, Lunch wellness events, on-site programming and more to our clients.