[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 81 (Thursday, May 12, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SKIN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

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                            HON. BILL FOSTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 12, 2022

  Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, as May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, I 
rise today to draw my colleagues' attention to the importance of 
knowing the risks for common skin cancers and treatment options.
  I am a skin cancer survivor, thanks to regular screenings and early 
detection. My father was not so lucky and passed away from untreated 
skin cancer.
  Our skin is our largest organ, protecting us from temperature 
extremes, injury, and infection. When our skin is exposed to the sun 
for an excessive amount of time, particularly our face, neck, arms, and 
hands, DNA damage can occur, resulting in non-melanoma skin cancer.
  It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the 
age of 70, making this the most common type of cancer amongst 
Americans. On average, 3.4 million new cases of skin cancer are 
diagnosed every year, with thousands of those cases resulting in death. 
With early detection, the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 99 
percent. Today, treatment options include both surgery and non-surgical 
radiotherapy.
  Everyone should take steps to avoid skin cancer. Do self-exams. See 
your primary care doctor or dermatologist annually and tell them about 
your risk factors, including sun exposure, use of indoor tanning 
devices, age, prior skin cancer or family history, and other health 
conditions. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen that filters both ultraviolet 
A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays and offers a sun protection factor 
(SPF) of 30 or higher every day. Limit your exposure during peak sun 
hours (10 am to 4 pm), and wear sunglasses with 100 percent UV 
protection and a wide-brimmed hat.

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