KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

Here are some sobering statistics and information on melanoma.  Please read and share with everyone who will listen, and be persistent with those who won't.  You might save a life.

• Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers.  Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of the cases, but almost 80% of skin cancer deaths.
• Around 76,250 new cases of melanoma have been/will be diagnosed in 2012.  That's a new case every 8 minutes.
• Around 9,180 people will die from melanoma this year.
• The incidence of melanoma has been rising since the late 70s/early 80s.
• Melanoma is not picky about who it strikes.  Young or old, black or white...anyone can get melanoma.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared UV radiation (including tanning beds) to be a human carcinogen.
• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major risk factor for most melanomas.  Sunlight is the main source of UV rays.  Tanning lamps and beds are also sources of UV rays.  People who get a lot of exposure to light from these sources are at greater risk for skin cancer, including melanoma.
• There are no safe UV rays.
• Melanoma is the fastest growing type of cancer...worldwide. 
• Your chance of developing melanoma increases by 75% if you used a tanning bed before age 35.
• Your chance of developing melanoma increases by 20% by using a tanning bed just once.

More important information and stats:

From the Melanoma Research Foundation:http://www.melanoma.org/learn-more/melanoma-101/melanoma-statistics-facts

From the National Cancer Institute:http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/skin

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/melanoma

From AIM at Melanoma:http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/en/aim-for-answers/about-melanoma-and-other-lesions/melanoma-statistics.html