What CDC is Doing

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides leadership for nationwide efforts to reduce illness and death caused by skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States. The message of CDC's Skin Cancer Primary Prevention and Education Initiative is clear: When in the sun, seek shade, cover up, get a hat, wear sunglasses, and use sunscreen.

Accomplishments

To meet its goal of healthy people in every stage of life, CDC has disseminated information about the importance of minimizing UV exposure during childhood. CDC's "Guidelines for School Programs to Prevent Skin Cancer," which was published in 2002 in the Morbidity and Mortality Research and Recommendations Report, is designed to help state and local schools and education agencies play a role in reducing unsafe sun exposure. The publication includes recommendations for

• Establishing policies that reduce exposure to UV radiation.
• Maintaining an environment that supports sun-safety practices.
• Providing health education to students.
• Involving students' families.
• Training health care professionals.
• Evaluating skin cancer prevention programs in schools.

Additionally, CDC has worked with other federal agencies and the independent Task Force on Community Preventive Services to review studies of community-based interventions targeting skin cancer prevention. Recommended interventions are published in the Guide to Community Preventive Services. This publication describes proven strategies that communities can use to plan and implement skin cancer prevention programs.

Ongoing Work

CDC's skin cancer prevention and education efforts include

• Funding cancer programs in three states to implement skin cancer activities outlined in the states' Comprehensive Cancer Control (CCC) plans, through the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program.



• Funding education agencies in three states to collaborate with the states' departments of public health to conduct demonstration projects implementing the "Guidelines for School Programs to Prevent Skin Cancer."



• Supporting epidemiologic, behavioral science, and surveillance research efforts designed to expand the knowledge about skin cancer prevention and control.

Future Directions

CDC will expand its Skin Cancer Prevention Education Program to

• Enhance prevention research to identify effective strategies for reducing skin cancer risk.



• Increase support of skin cancer activities described in states' CCC plans. Specifically, CDC's National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program will fund selected states with approved skin cancer activities.



• Promote, disseminate, and support the implementation of the "Guidelines for School Programs to Prevent Skin Cancer."