H.B. 588

127th General Assembly

(As Introduced)

 

Reps.     Goyal, Dodd, Slesnick, J. McGregor, Harwood, Szollosi, Gerberry, Hughes, J. Otterman, B. Williams, Luckie, Skindell, Mallory, Okey, Evans, Collier, Brady, Mecklenborg, Lundy, Brown, DeGeeter, Strahorn

BILL SUMMARY

·        Designates May as "Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month."

CONTENT AND OPERATION

The bill designates the month of May as "Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month."

COMMENT

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, affecting the cells that give color to skin, known as melanocytes, or melanin-producing cells.  Melanoma causes the most deaths as compared to other types of skin cancer, despite its relative rarity.  Excessive exposure to ultra-violet light is a leading cause of melanoma.[1]

Melanoma typically appears as a change in an existing mole or the emergence of a new, unusual-looking mole.  Early detection of melanoma is fundamental because melanoma can be successfully treated if detected early, often by surgical removal.  If undetected, melanoma can spread to parts of the body beyond the skin, which makes the cancer more difficult to treat.[2]  The National Cancer Institute estimates that for 2008, there will be 62,480 new cases and 8,420 deaths resulting from melanoma in the United States.[3]

Skin cancer can also occur in non-melanoma form.  Non-melanoma skin cancer affects basal cells, which are small cells at the base of the outer layer of the skin.  Non-melanoma skin cancer can be deadly, but not as frequently as melanoma.  The National Cancer Institute estimates that for the United States in 2008 there will be a million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer resulting in a thousand deaths.[4]

HISTORY

ACTION

DATE

 

 

Introduced

06-10-08

 

 

 

h0588-i-127.doc/kl


[1] MayoClinic.com.  Melanoma:  Causes (last visited November 5, 2008), available at <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/melanoma/DS00439/DSECTION=causes>.

[2] MayoClinic.com.  Melanoma:  Definition (last visited November 5, 2008), available at <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/melanoma/DS00439>.

[3] National Cancer Institute.  Melanoma (last visited November 5, 2008), available at <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/melanoma>.

[4] National Cancer Institute.  Skin Cancer (last visited November 5, 2008), available at <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/skin/>.