Reducing Skin Cancer Risks

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.  More than 1 million people are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer annually.  More than 65,000 are diagnosed with melanoma, the most invasive and deadly form of skin cancer, and more than 8,500 die from melanoma.  The estimated annual direct and indirect cost of skin cancer is $5.6 billion.  Between 65 percent and 90 percent of melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.  Most skin cancers occur in whites and are more common among men than women. Rates of skin cancer have been rising, particularly among women ages 15 to 39.