Sun Safety Sun Safety

Essex County Cancer Coalition MeetingEssex County Cancer Coalition MeetingJune 3, 2010June 3, 2010

Amanda Medina-Forrester, MA, MPHOffice of Community Outreach

Office of Extramural AffairsThe Cancer Institute of New Jersey

What is Choose Your Cover?

Going Outdoors in NJ to Fight Melanoma/Skin Cancer

• A statewide collaborative initiative• Promotes risk education, early detection

and skin cancer screenings at outdoor venues;

• Increases awareness about the need for protection from UV rays which is the easiest way to eliminate the most common risk factor for melanoma.

Is Skin Cancer THAT Harmful?

• Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the US• A history of excessive sun exposure, including sunburns, is

a risk factor for melanoma/skin cancer• Melanoma is an epidemic and in the United States; since

1995 incidence rates are rising 3.8% per year in those aged 15 to 34 years and 8.85% in those 65 and older since 2003.

• In NJ Melanoma is a serious threat where the number of new melanoma cases is the fifth in the nation.

• Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in men and 6th most common in women.

2008/20091,917 NJ beach-goers were screened for skin cancer

555 (29%)referrals including:• 78 (4%) basal cell carcinomas• 36 (2%) squamous cell

carcinomas• 62 (3%) suspected melanomas

2008/2009 (cont’d)Thousands of sunscreen samples & skin cancer educational brochures distributed

Choose Your Cover 2010 July 17, 2010 (Raindate: July 18)

• GoalsSimultaneously provide free skin cancer screenings

and education at outdoor recreational areas statewide 10 AM to 2 PM

– Increase # of: • Participating counties from 4 to 21• Screening sites from 11 to 28• Participants from 1,976 to 2,600

– Educate people about skin cancer (# to be determined)

CINJ-DEVELOPED MATERIALS

Everyone, Regardless of Skin Color, Everyone, Regardless of Skin Color, Can Get Skin CancerCan Get Skin Cancer

[YOUR NAME HERE][AFFILIATION]

By the End of the Session, You Will Know:

1) Am I at risk for skin cancer?2) Why is my skin so important?3) What is skin cancer?4) What makes the sun so dangerous?5) How do I protect myself from the sun?6) What is sunscreen?7) How do I check for skin cancer?

Is it OK to Get a Tan or Sunburn?

Everyone, regardless of skin color, can sunburn!

A suntan or sunburn are not

indicators of good health.

Tanning and sunburns are just like smoking cigarettes; just one suntan or sunburn

can increase your risk of cancer, regardless of skin color.

How Do I Protect My Skin?“Slip, Slop, Slap, & Wrap”

SLIP on a shirt

SLAP on a hat with a 2 to 3-inch brim all around to protect neck, ears, nose and scalp

SLOP on sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher

WRAP on sunglasses to protect the eyes and skin

around them

Any Special Info for Children?

• Infant skin burns more easily than that of older kids.• Sunscreen should not be applied to babies under 6

months of age, so just keep them out of the sun whenever possible. – If your infant must be in the sun, dress him or her in clothing

that covers the body, including hats with wide brims to shadow the face.

– Use an umbrella to create shade.• For kids age 6 months and older, select an SPF of 15

or higher to prevent both sunburn and tanning.

How Do I Use Sunscreen?

• Apply sunscreen whenever you will be in the sun. • Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before you go outside so

that a good layer of protection can form. Don't forget about lips, hands, ears, feet, shoulders, and behind the neck.

• Don't try to stretch out a bottle of sunscreen; apply it generously.

• Reapply sunscreen often, approximately every 2 to 3 hours. • Reapply after if you’ve been sweating or swimming. • Apply a waterproof sunscreen if you will be around water or

swimming. And regardless of the waterproof label, be sure to reapply sunscreen when you come out of the water.

• Throw away any sunscreen products that are past their expiration dates

BE SURE TO FOLLOW THESE RULES WITH YOUR KIDS AND LOVED ONES!!!

What Should I Look For? – The ABCDE Rule –

Asymmetry: One half of the mole does not match the other half.

Border irregularity: The edges of the mole are irregular or not smooth. They may look ragged, blurred, or notched.

Bob Marley (1945-1981)Reggae musician

Died of melanoma which started in his toe and

spread to brain

*Info provided by Tiffany Weirbach Melanoma Foundation

Powerpoints and Pre/Post-Tests available in Spanish and English

This is great! How can I get a copy of this to use in my community?

CINJ Educational Materials Archive

Archive • CINJ materials are available

at no cost and available immediately for download

• Materials development and design

• Materials dissemination • Increase community

awareness of cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment

Go tohttp://cinj.org/outreach/

and click on the link in the NEW! section

OR

https://cinjweb.umdnj.edu/network/outreach/

Thank You!Deb Levinson

State Coordinator, Choose Your Cover

Mountainside Hospital

Statewide Melanoma Workgroup, NJ Office of Cancer Control and Prevention, & CINJ Faculty

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Contact Information

Kiameesha Evans, MPH, CHESProgram Director

evanskr@umdnj.edu

Amanda Medina, MA, MPHProgram Development Specialist

medinaay@umdnj.edu

Ciara RiveraStaff Assistant

riveraci@umdnj.edu

Office of Community OutreachThe Cancer Institute of New Jersey

www.facebook.com/TheCINJ