Skin Cancer
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Screening and Preventive Medicine Recommendations
The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of using a whole-body skin examination by a primary care clinician or patient skin self-examination for the early detection of cutaneous melanoma, basal cell cancer, or squamous cell skin cancer in the adult general population. (I)
The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine counseling by primary care clinicians to prevent skin cancer. (I)
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Any cancer or malignant growth on the skin.
Why Employers Should Care?
- New cases estimated for 2009 (excluding basal and squamous): 74,610 (42,920 men and 31,690 women)1
- Deaths estimated for 2009: 11,5901
- 95% of skin cancers are carcinomas (non-tumor cancers of skin cells and tissue lining). This type of cancers are highly treatable and often do not metastasize (spread to other organs or tissues).2
- Melanomas account for a smaller percentage of skin cancers, but prove more fatal - they account for approximately 68,720 new cases each year and 8,650 deaths.3
- Annual total spending for melanoma in the United States is $2.98 billion.4
- Risk factors for malignant melanomas include certain types of moles, suppression of the immune system, personal or family history of skin cancer, excessive sun or tanning bed exposure, sunburns, poor tanning ability, freckles, and light skin, hair or eyes.2
What Can Employers Do?
- Encourage annual physical exams — Although not directly recommended, physical examinations may provide an opportunity for discovery of other health conditions.
- Counsel employees, especially those at high risk about sun safe practices — Educate employees about the benefits of limiting sun exposure and protective clothing
- Encourage healthy work practices for high risk and outdoor employees — try to limit outdoor employees' sun exposure between 10 am and 3 pm.
- Offer cost effective protective gear — Offer such gear as hats, sunglasses and sunscreen (for overall skin health not necessarily to prevent skin cancer) as a part of health promotion programs and to employees who regularly work outdoors.
- Recommend high-risk employees seek consultation and screenings for skin cancer during annual medical examinations.
Other Resources
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