Are We Doing Enough to Stop the Nation’s Most Common Cancer?

Are We Doing Enough to Stop the Nation’s Most Common Cancer?

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in America, even though most cases can be prevented. Anyone can get it. CDC released its 4^th annual Skin Cancer Prevention Progress Report to let the nation know how well skin cancer prevention efforts are working.

The Good News: Some colleges are trying to educate students about the dangers of indoor tanning, and kids in a rising number of schools can now carry and use sunscreen. Also, rates of melanoma (the deadliest kind of skin cancer) are going down among white people who are 14 to 44 years old.

Room for Improvement: While melanoma rates are lower among younger people, they’re going up in non-Hispanic white people 55 and older. Non-Hispanic white people have the highest rates of skin cancer. Many schools are still not doing enough to keep students sun safe, and studies show doctors don’t often talk with parents about sun protection.

Find out more about how to protect yourself and your family from skin cancer.

Pordell (third from left) with fellow facilitators.

Pushing Ourselves to Push for Equal Care

A DCPC representative finished a two-part training series on health equity, which means making sure that all people have access to the right health care, tests, and treatments. DCPC’s Paran Pordell, MPH, CHES, was one of the facilitators who led the training. This session was for project officers who work with people and groups that get CDC funding. Learn more about what CDC is doing to help ensure all people get good health care.

DCPC Director Talks Study and Success with Alma Mater

Dr. Lisa Richardson spoke about her motivation for going into medicine and helping people in an articlefor the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. Richardson, who earned her MPH at UMich, credited inspirational women and family support for her path to oncology and public health. She continues to inspire public health and medical students at the university with her work toward making good cancer information and care available to everyone.