[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 492 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 492

 Supporting the goals and ideals of Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and 
       Prevention Month and Melanoma Day, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 14, 2004

 Mr. Hinchey submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the goals and ideals of Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and 
       Prevention Month and Melanoma Day, and for other purposes.

Whereas in 2004, more than 1,000,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 
        the United States;
Whereas over half of all new cases of cancer are forms of skin cancer;
Whereas approximately 80 percent of all new cases of skin cancer are basal cell 
        carcinoma, while 16 percent are squamous cell carcinoma and 4 percent 
        are melanoma;
Whereas both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma have a better than 
        95 percent cure rate if detected and treated early;
Whereas in 2004, it is estimated that there will be 95,880 new cases of melanoma 
        in the United States, a four percent increase from 2003;
Whereas in 2004, approximately 10,250 people will die of skin cancer in the 
        United States, 7,910 from melanoma and 2,340 from other skin cancers;
Whereas one person dies of melanoma nearly every hour;
Whereas 1 in 37 Americans have a risk of developing melanoma in their lifetime;
Whereas older caucasian males have the highest mortality rates from melanoma;
Whereas melanoma is more common than any non-skin cancer among women between 25 
        and 29 years of age;
Whereas excessive exposure to the ultraviolet radiation of the sun is the most 
        important preventable cause of melanoma;
Whereas other possible causes of melanoma include genetic factors and immune 
        system deficiencies;
Whereas melanoma is highly curable when detected in its earliest stages, with an 
        average five-year survival rate of 96 percent if the melanoma has not 
        spread beyond the outer layers of the skin at the time of detection;
Whereas in 1985, the American Academy of Dermatology designated the month of May 
        as Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month and in 1995, the 
        Academy designated the first Monday in May as Melanoma Monday; and
Whereas Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month and Melanoma Monday 
        help raise public awareness of the importance of sun safety and skin 
        cancer detection and prevention: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of Melanoma/Skin Cancer 
        Detection and Prevention Month and Melanoma Day; and
            (2) urges the people of the United States to protect 
        themselves from the dangers of ultraviolet exposure, to conduct 
        a regular self-examination of the skin to detect changes in its 
        appearance, and to obtain an annual skin cancer screening.
                                 <all>