Yale Cancer Center Experts Remind of the Dangerous Impact of Sun Exposure
For Immediate Release
Date: 05/04/09
Contact:
Renee Gaudette 203-436-8533, or renee.gaudette@yale.edu
New Haven, Conn. — Despite the known connection between sun exposure and the development of skin cancer, and proven methods of prevention, the incidence of skin cancer continues to increase in the United States. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and each year more than one million Americans are diagnosed with the disease.
“Protection and prevention are the key factors in stopping the growing epidemic of skin cancer. Two simple steps –, a daily program of sun protection including regular use of sunscreen and avoidance of tanning booths – will greatly reduce a person’s risk of developing skin cancer over their lifetime,” said David J. Leffell, MD, Yale Cancer Center member and David Paige Smith Professor of Dermatology and Surgery.
In addition to regular self-skin examinations, annual full-body skin check-ups with a dermatologist are recommended to identify suspicious skin lesions and enable the earliest detection of any skin malignancies. “Early detection of a skin cancer greatly improves a patient’s options for treatment and outcome,” Dr. Leffell explained.
While melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer, it accounts for more than 75% of all skin cancer deaths but fortunately is most commonly diagnosed at early highly treatable stages. New treatment options for patients diagnosed with advanced stage melanoma are emerging and providing new hope as well.
Yale Cancer Center is a leader in the development of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer. The Center was awarded one of only four Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grants by the National Cancer Institute to concentrate on skin cancer research and the rapid movement of laboratory findings to benefit patients.
“The primary goal of the SPORE grant is to better understand the biology of the skin cancers with a focus on discovering targets that will lead to improved diagnosis and treatment,” explained Dr. Mario Sznol, Professor of Medical Oncology and Co-Director of the Yale Cancer Center Melanoma Program. “The continuous collaborations between the laboratories and practices at Yale Cancer Center made possible through the SPORE grant create new opportunities to treat our patients with the most advanced treatment options available.”
Yale Cancer Center is one of a select network of comprehensive cancer centers in the country designated by the National Cancer Institute and the only one in Southern New England. Bringing together the resources of Yale School of Medicine and Yale-New Haven Hospital, its mission encompasses patient care, research, cancer prevention and control, community outreach, and education. For more information visit www.yalecancercenter.org