We all know how to prevent most forms of skin cancer. Limit sun exposure and use strong sunscreens to dramatically reduce your risk of contracting the disease
But a deeper look at the numbers might open your eyes to the importance of taking these steps instead of merely knowing about them.
The Skin Cancer Foundation figures below paint a stunning picture of the serious nature of skin cancer. For the full list, visit www.skincancer.org, where you also can find information on the various forms of skin cancer, as well as expert tips on prevention.
• One person dies of melanoma every 57 minutes;
• An estimated 9,940 people died of melanoma in 2015;
• Nearly 5 million Americans are treated for skin cancer every year;
• Each year, there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon;
• Over the past three decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined;
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of their lives;
• Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, with an estimated 2.8 million people diagnosed annually in the United States;
• Organ transplant patients are up to 250 times more likely than the general public to develop squamous cell carcinoma; and
• As many as 3,000 deaths from advanced cell carcinoma occur annually in the United States.