Skin Cancer Primary Prevention and Education Initiative

CDC's goal is to provide leadership for nationwide efforts to reduce illness and death caused by skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States. The focus of these efforts is education and prevention. When in the sun, seek shade, cover up, get a hat, wear sunglasses, and use sunscreen. "Best of the Best" Choose Your Cover CD-ROM NEW! Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Task Forces Publish Recommendations on Skin Cancer Prevention "Best of the Best" Choose Your Cover CD-ROM NEW! The Choose Your Cover Campaign (CYC) was a 5-year skin cancer prevention and education campaign sponsored by CDC. Although CYC concluded May 20, 2003, all of the materials—skin cancer facts, information for parents, campaign materials, and ready to use graphics—are still available. The CD-ROM contains campaign brochures, posters, print public service announcements and icons. Visit Campaign Materials for more information. Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness May is National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. The month is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the importance of skin cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment, including basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma. Visit Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness for more information. Task Forces Publish Recommendations on Skin Cancer Prevention Research results published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Recommendations and Reports on skin cancer prevention represent the first combined publication from two leading independent panels: the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which is supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and the Task Force on Community Preventive Services, which is supported by CDC. Findings from the reports include recommendations for educational and policy approaches in primary schools and in recreational and tourism settings to encourage people to wear hats or other garments to limit sun exposure. MMWR, October 17, 2003, Vol. 52, No. RR-15 (PDF–491K) Preventing Skin Cancer: Findings of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services on Reducing Exposure to Ultraviolet Light Counseling to Prevent Skin Cancer: Recommendations and Rationale of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force CDC Press Release USPSTF Skin Cancer Screening Recommendations Guide to Community Preventive Services*		Malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is the most rapidly increasing form of cancer in the United States. Over 55,100 cases will be diagnosed this year. For additional information about skin cancer, visit the CancerNet Web site, What You Need to Know About Melanoma. Cancer Facts & Figures 2004, American Cancer Society, 2004 "There is good news: skin cancer can be prevented. The challenge, however, lies in changing the attitudes and behaviors that increase a person's risk of developing skin cancer." David Satcher, MD, PhD, Surgeon General 1998-2002

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Page last reviewed: Friday, October 29, 2004

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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