It's Melanoma Monday in Utah and across the nation, which is centered on the early detection and prevention of a disease that kills thousands of Americans each year. Kimberly Dinsdale with the American Cancer Society said melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, affects many people.
"The estimated number throughout the country is about 73,000 cases will be diagnosed this year," Dinsdale said. "And in Utah, about 800 new cases will be diagnosed of some form of melanoma of the skin."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in a recent year more than 9,000 Americans died from melanoma, with about two-thirds being male and the rest female. The CDC estimates that about 100 people in Utah die from melanoma each year.
Melanoma Monday kicks off the broader campaign of May being Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, which encourages regular medical checkups and self-examination. Dinsdale said another critical precaution is avoiding ultraviolet radiation.
"If you're out in the sun, wear protective clothing, slop on sunscreen and wear a hat," Dinsdale said. "So that you can shield yourself from the sun, and shield yourself from those harmful UVA and UVB rays that can potentially cause skin cancer."
Dinsdale said that it doesn't matter if it's clear or overcast, or how long you're actually spending out in the sun, every bit of exposure can damage your skin.