Going Outdoors in New Jersey to Fight Skin Cancer Screenings & Education at the Beach &

1. Going Outdoors in New Jersey to Fight Skin Cancer Screenings & Education at the Beach & Other Outdoor Recreational Settings

2. What is Choose Your Cover - 2010? Choose Your Cover – Going Outdoors in NJ to Fight Melanoma/Skin Cancer • A statewide collaborative initiative • Offers point-of-service education and free skin cancer screenings outdoors to promote risk education, early detection. • Increases awareness about the need to reduce unprotected exposure to the sun’s UV rays which is the easiest way to eliminate the most common risk factor for melanoma. • 2010 goal - reach 2,600 people who: • Engage in outdoor recreational activities at beaches, lakes, pools, parks and other venues in NJ; • May never have had their skin examined and because of their sun exposure, could be at a higher risk for melanoma/skin cancer.

3. Why Melanoma/Skin Cancer Education and Screenings are Needed Just the Facts: • Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and NJ; Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in men and 6th most common in women and occurs almost equally among both genders. • In NJ Melanoma is a serious threat where the number of new melanoma cases is the fifth in the nation. • One person dies every hour from melanoma, almost 70,000 Americans will be diagnosed and 8,700 will die from the disease. • Melanoma is an epidemic and in the United States; since 1995 incidence rates are rising 3.8% per year in those aged 15 to 34 years and 8.85% in those 65 and older since 2003. • New Jersey’s mortality rate for melanoma is 2.7; the Healthy People 2020 goal is 2.5. Healthy People 2020 Objectives: 3.8 Reduce the rate of melanoma cancer deaths (Goal 2.5 per 100,000 population) 3.9 Increase the proportion of persons who use at least one of the following protective measures that may reduce the risk of skin cancer: avoid the sun between 10 AM and 4 PM; wear sun protective-clothing when exposed to sunlight; use sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of 15 or higher; and avoid artificial sources of UV light Source: ACS. Cancer Facts and Figures 2009

4. Why Melanoma/Skin Cancer Education and Screenings are Needed at Outdoor Venues • A history of excessive sun exposure, including sunburns, is a risk factor for melanoma/skin cancer. • Skin examination rates are low – systematic efforts needed to increase screening rates. (Coups) • Melanoma is the primary cause of cancer death in women between ages 25-30 and second cause of cancer death (only to breast cancer) in women ages 30-35. • The death rate from melanoma for men is almost twice that of women due to late detection. Older Caucasian males have the highest mortality rates from melanoma. Source: ACS. Cancer Facts and Figures 2009; Coups E., et al. Prev. & Correlates of Skin Cancer Screening among Mid.-Aged and Older White Males in US…Am Jrnl Med (2010) 123, 439-445

5. Choose Your Cover 2008/2009

6. Choose Your Cover Implementation • Local Implementation Model • Initial idea from Melanoma Work Group of Governor’s Task Force for Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment in NJ • Engage County Cancer Coalitions • “Buy-in” from our “skin cancer consortium”:  the political and public health community, melanoma interest groups, as well as the state of New Jersey, and the local hospitals.

7. Impact of Choose Your Cover 1,917 NJ beach-goers were screened for skin cancer in 2008/2009 555 (29%)referrals including: • 78 (4%) basal cell carcinomas • 36 (2%) squamous cell carcinomas • 62 (3%) suspected melanomas

8. 2008/2009 Thousands of sunscreen samples and skin cancer educational brochures distributed. Statistically significant results from Pre- and Post-test administered at one site about use of : Sunscreen Protective clothing Hat

9. SUCCESS!! • Easily replicated, Low-cost model • Determination, dedication, facilitation, coordination, teamwork • Professionals • Hospitals, Health Departments, Community Organizations • Municipalities, lifeguards, park directors • High public awareness of melanoma/skin cancer • Event locations • Heavily traveled areas along the NJ shore • Large groups of people

10. Why Sponsor a Choose Your Cover Site • Many participants may never have had their skin examined and because of their sun exposure, could be at a higher risk for melanoma/skin cancer • Community benefit for your hospital • Provides opportunities for physicians to reach a population who normally do not attend skin cancer screenings - look at the stats • Statewide Coordination and Collaboration --Efficiency and Effectiveness • Guidebook – How to • Site Recruitment • Staff Education • Communication • Traditional & non-traditional • Funding and Resources

11. Contact information Deb Levinson, FACHE Statewide Coordinator Choose Your Cover 2010 Ocean County Cancer Coalition Coordinator 732.418-3232 Or dlevinson@newsolutionsinc.com Made possible by NJ Office of Cancer Control and Prevention www.cancer.nj.gov Community Medical Center Foundation Mike Geltrude Foundation