SPONSOR:

Sen. Cloutier & Rep. Schwartzkopf

Sens. Ennis, Hansen, Lawson, Poore, Townsend; Reps. Baumbach, Briggs King, Collins, Gray, Heffernan, Hudson, Jaques, Keeley, Kenton, Miro, Osienski, B. Short, M. Smith, Spiegelman, K. Williams, Wilson

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 25

CONTINUING TO RAISE AWARENESS THAT THE MONTH OF MAY IS MELANOMA AND SKIN CANCER DETECTION AND PREVENTION MONTH IN DELAWARE AND CELEBRATING NEW RESEARCH PREDICTING LOWER MELANOMA RATES.

WHEREAS, since 2009, May has been permanently designated in the Delaware Code as Melanoma and Skin Care Cancer Detection and Prevention Month in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, it continues to be important to raise awareness of this too often deadly form of cancer; and

WHEREAS, exposure to ultraviolet rays is the most significant environmental factor which leads to cancer; and

WHEREAS, melanoma is curable if detected and treated in its early stages; and

WHEREAS, melanoma accounts for only one percent of all skin cancer cases, but the vast majority of skin cancer related deaths; and

WHEREAS, melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young adults; and

WHEREAS, melanoma incidence rates have been increasing for at least 30 years; and

WHEREAS, there will be an estimated 9,730 melanoma related deaths in the U.S. in 2017; and

WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2017 there will be 340 newly diagnosed cases of melanoma in Delaware and 87,110 newly diagnosed cases of melanoma nationally; and

WHEREAS, May is recognized across the United States as National Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month; and

WHEREAS, researchers at the European Cancer Congress 2017 predict that death rates in the U.S. from malignant melanoma will be 2 ½ to 3 times lower in 2050 than in 1995-2005; and

WHEREAS, the researchers credit the decrease in melanoma death rates to increases in skin protection and advances in medical treatments; and

WHEREAS, continued advocacy and public awareness is needed to maintain the progress made in skin protection and sunscreen use;

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 149 th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House concurring therein, that there is a continuing need to raise awareness that the month of May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month in Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly celebrates new research predicting lower melanoma death rates.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution continues to raise awareness that the month of May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month in Delaware and celebrates new research predicting lower melanoma rates.

Author: Senator Cloutier