Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and is the most preventable.
Suffolk County has the highest average of new Melanoma cases, the deadliest form of skin cancer, in New York State from 2015-2019. Nassau County has the second highest in the state.
Skin cancer can be prevented by reducing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which comes from the sun and indoor tanning devices. Avoiding indoor tanning and practicing sun safety when outdoors will reduce your risk of skin cancer.
Image description: Infographic titled “7 tips to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer”. Tips are listed from top to bottom and read: 1. “Seek shade, especially between 10am to 4pm”, 2. “Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses”, 3. “Apply sunscreen every day. Use a broad spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen. For extended outdoor exposure use SPF 30 or higher. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, excessive sweating, or toweling off.”, 4 “Avoid suntanning”, 5. “Never use tanning beds”, 6. “Keep newborns out of the sun, sunscreen should only be used on babies over 6 months.”, 7. “Visit take action against cancer dot com to learn more about how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from the risk of developing skin cancer.”
Stony Brook Cancer Center Takes Action Against Cancer through:
AWARENESS
SUPPORT
- Free educational workshops on skin cancer prevention and sun safety, customized to meet the needs of your organization.
- Free education and informational materials for teens and young adults on the dangers of indoor tanning.
- Free suns safety educational activities for students, campers, and other children’s groups.
- Promote your organization in local and social media as a positive example of skin cancer prevention in the community.
- Free skin cancer prevention graphics for your organization’s social media platforms and website.
- Promote sun safety at a community event and provide free sun scree or other sun safety materials.
- Free educational materials on skin cancer prevention topics translated into Spanish.
- Support your organization to implement sun safety policy to help reduce the risk of skin cancer for your staff and patrons.
- Assist your organization to draft a sun safety policy based on best practices in skin cancer prevention research and specific to your organizational needs.
- Provide free sunscreen, shade structures, and/or other sun safety materials to implement your sun safety policy.
- Lead free staff training or student/camper education on your organization’s new sun safety policy and the importance of skin cancer prevention.
- Promote your organization and policy in local media, social media, and paid media advertisements as a positive example of skin cancer prevention in the community.