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

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.