Reps. Townsend, Brown, Crawford, Darany, Denby, Durhal, Heise, Howrylak, Jacobsen, Kelly, Lori, Roberts, Segal and Slavens offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 132.  

            A resolution to declare May 2013 as Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Most people do not realize that the skin is the largest and most visible organ of the body and performs many essential protective functions.

Whereas, Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States; and

Whereas, Current estimates are that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime; and

Whereas, Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer and it is the leading cause of death from skin disease; and

Whereas, When detected early, the survival rate for individuals with melanoma is greater than 98%, and the survival rate falls to 15% for those with advanced disease; and

Whereas, In 2013 the American Cancer Society estimated that 76,250 new cases of melanoma would be diagnosed and that 9,180 deaths would occur from melanoma; and

Whereas, There are more new cases of malignant melanoma diagnosed in Grand Traverse County than 97% of all other counties nationwide; and

Whereas, Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults between 25 and 29 years of age and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults between 15 and 19 years of age; and

Whereas, The National Cancer Institute reports that the cost to treat skin cancers in the United States is $2 billion annually; and

Whereas, The Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) most recent recommendations to promote sun safety awareness should be shared with consumers, including limiting the time in the sun when rays are most intense between 10am and 2pm, wearing protective clothing, and applying a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least a 15 or higher 20 minutes before sun exposure and reapplication every 2 hours or earlier if sweating or water exposure occurs; and

Whereas, The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that frequent exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation for individuals under the age of 35 increases the risk of developing melanoma by 75%; and

Whereas, The ABCDE mnemonic for pigmented skin lesions continues to be an important early detection educational tool for patients and heath care professionals and includes asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, diameter greater than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser), evolving or changing mole; and

Whereas, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month is a public education service designated to promote the prevention and early detection of melanoma and other skin cancers; now, therefore, be it  

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare May 2013 as Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month in the state of Michigan.