Melanoma in the News

Melanoma is making headline news all over the country lately. Why, you ask? Well, for one, melanoma is on a steep rise. While many cancers have seen a decrease over the last 10 years, melanoma has not. In fact, a recent Mayo study showed an EIGHT-FOLD increase in YOUNG WOMEN in recent years. Tanning is one of the major contributors, even though the FDA and other major health organizations have declared indoor tanning devices "carcinogenic". Young girls just don't get it.

Here are some of the recent articles and stories:

This article talks about the rise of melanoma in young adults, specifically young women.

I like this WebMD article that talks about the rising incidence of melanoma, but also how to prevent it.

This article talks about how teen tanning for Prom is still the norm, despite the rising incidence rate of melanoma.

This story of a young woman is the perfect example of what happens when you use tanning beds. She was diagnosed at age 22 and passed away at 26 from melanoma. It is not worth it!


I also like this quote regarding tanning beds:

"Here's a generally good rule of thumb: when doctors, dermatologists, and scientists link a purely recreational, easy-to-avoid behavior like tanning to cancer, and the people that are making money off that recreational, easy-to-avoid behavior try desperately to refute them, it's best to err on the side of science and safety."--Hanna Brooks Olsen

I have two words for those who think they look better with a tan: SPRAY TAN.