Skin Deep

Ky Brown's Fundraiser:

Want to raise $10 today, to help spread Skin Cancer awareness. http://bit.ly/90XhTS

via Crowdrise 5 years ago

BENEFITING: SKIN CANCER FOUNDATION INC

THE STORY:

I started this project because I have a history of skin cancer that runs in my family. My grandfather has had several cases of skin cancer, with the expenses of the surgeries to go with. I want to bring an awareness to this seemingly over looked cause. So here's what you can do to help.

1. Make a Donation

2. Tell your family and friends. Help spread the word.

3. Read the facts and become aware.

4. Sunscreen before you go out ;)

Skin Cancer Facts:

GENERAL

* Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million cases in two million people are diagnosed annually.37
* Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon.3
* One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.26
* Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer; an estimated 2.8 million BCCs are diagnosed annually in the US.38 BCCs are rarely fatal, but can be highly disfiguring if allowed to grow.
* Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. An estimated 700,000 cases are diagnosed each year in the US,39 resulting in approximately 2,500 deaths.2
* Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the two major forms of non-melanoma skin cancer. Between 40 and 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will have either skin cancer at least once.7
* In 2004, the total direct cost associated with the treatment for non-melanoma skin cancers was more than $1 billion.14
* About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.30
* Up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun.16
* Contrary to popular belief, 80 percent of a person's lifetime sun exposure is not acquired before age 18; only about 23 percent of lifetime exposure occurs by age 18.8

Lifetime UV Exposure in the United States
Ages Average Accumulated Exposure*
1-18 22.73 percent
19-40 46.53 percent
41-59 73.7 percent
60-78 100 percent

*Based on a 78 year lifespan

MELANOMA

* The vast majority of mutations found in melanoma are caused by ultraviolet radiation.36
* The incidence of many common cancers is falling, but the incidence of melanoma continues to rise significantly, at a rate faster than that of any of the seven most common cancers.21
* Approximately 68,720 melanomas will