Congressional Briefing and Skin Cancer Screening on Capitol Hill Today
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 2, 2011) – In light of mounting scientific evidence showing that indoor tanning increases the risk for developing skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, a congressional briefing will be held tomorrow highlighting the dangers of indoor tanning. Joining together is a contingent of national health care organizations concerned about the impact of indoor tanning on the public’s health, particularly young women.
— The briefing will be held Tuesday, May 3 at 10 a.m. in HVC-200 (House
side of the Capitol Visitors Center).
— A public skin cancer screening will take place immediately following the
briefing in HVC -200 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A UV camera also will be
available to take pictures of the sun damage beneath the skin.
The health care organizations participating in this public awareness event are:
— American Academy of Dermatology Association
— American Academy of Ophthalmology
— American Academy of Pediatrics
— American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
— American College of Physicians
— American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
— American Medical Association
— American Osteopathic Association
— Melanoma Research Foundation
— National Council for Skin Cancer Prevention
— The Skin Cancer Foundation
Also in attendance will be Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) who will discuss newly introduced legislation that calls on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to re-examine the classification of indoor tanning beds. Currently, the FDA classifies indoor tanning devices as Class 1, the category for items that have minimal potential to cause harm to individuals, such as adhesive bandages and tongue depressors.
ATTENDING THE BRIEFING AND AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS
— Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.)
— Representative Charlie Dent (R-Pa.)
— Dermatologist Ronald L. Moy, MD, FAAD, AADA president
— Mary White, Chief of Epidemiology and Applied Research Branch, CDC
Division of Cancer Prevention
— Melanoma survivor, Jessica Lilley, MD, pediatrician and former indoor
tanner
VISUALS
— Attendees receiving skin cancer screenings (exposed-skin and full-body
screenings available)
— UV detection camera, which demonstrates the sun-damage beneath the skin.
DANGERS OF INDOOR TANNING
Physicians and other health care advocates are particularly alarmed about the impact of indoor tanning on young women.
— Melanoma is increasing faster in young women than in young men – and a
major difference in behavior is that women are more likely to use indoor
tanning beds. (Nearly 70 percent of tanning salon patrons are Caucasian
girls and women, primarily aged 16 to 29 years).
— Using tanning beds increases one’s risk for melanoma by 75 percent.
— Melanoma is now the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29
years old, and is the second most common form of cancer for adolescents
and young adults 15-29 years old.
— Melanoma is increasing faster in females 15-29 years old than in males
in the same age group.
Web Site: http://www.aad.org
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