The Skin Cancer Epidemic

Here are some ominous facts about the skin cancer epidemic (particularly the last one from Australia):

1 in 2 Americans over 65 will develop a skin cancer.
1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime.
One in 34 Americans will have a lifetime risk of developing a melanoma.
Skin cancer rates have doubled in people under 40 in the U.S. in just the past 10 years.
Five or more sunburns double your risk of developing skin cancer.
Melanoma is one of the most common cancers in people younger than 30 years old.
One basal or squamous cell carcinoma gives you a 50% chance of having another skin cancer in 5 years.
In 2006, more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed: that is more than prostate, breast, lung, colon, uterine, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer combined.
More than half of all new cancers diagnosed in the U.S. are skin cancer.
Ultraviolet light is the primary cause of skin cancer.
The closer to the equator you live, the higher the incidence of skin cancer.
Three major reasons for the skin cancer epidemic: increased intensity of ultraviolet light due to stratospheric ozone depletion, increased use of tanning booths (regular use triples the risk of skin cancer), and cigarette smoking (one pack per day over several years triples the risk of squamous cell carcinoma).
In the U.S., skin cancer is the fifth most expensive cancer diagnosis.
In Australia, skin cancer is the most expensive cancer diagnosis.

You can find more information from my article at:
http://www.marthajefferson.org/clinicalfront/website_fall_06/skin_cancer.php