Skin Cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Skin Cancer - Essay Example This decease occurs more often in people with light colored skin who are exposed to the sun for significant periods of time. The occurrences are most likely in the skin that has the most sun exposure (e.g. hands, head, neck, face, arms, or exposed legs), but it can also occur on nearly any skin surface, so periodic self examination is critical for early detection (National Cancer Institute, 2008). Skin cancer concerns are being addressed by many agencies and community initiatives. One excellent example is represented by the Comprehensive Cancer Program in Columbus, Ohio. Healthy People 2010 Cancer-Related Objectives are targeted to reduce the overall cancer death rate from melanoma cancer by 7%, to 2.5 deaths in 1000 population (Healthy Ohioans, 2008). The achievement of this objective is contingent upon education and increased doctor visits for appropriate screening, Epidemiological trends or the incidence rate and subsequent control of this disease has decreased in recent years but has remained on the upswing worldwide, and specifically in Western countries. This is most likely due to the fact that the incidence and the death rate of persons that have cutaneous melanoma, has increased significantly in most fair-skinned populations throughout the world (British Journal of Dermatology, 2004).