2019 Skin Cancer Prevention Progress Report 7 WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR? Shade as an Environmental Design Tool for Skin Cancer Prevention The American Journal of Public Health published an analytic essay on shade as an environmental design tool for skin cancer prevention in December 2018.5 The essay provided a review of the literature on shade design, use, and policy and highlighted the value of integrating shade planning into community design, planning, and architecture. Low Use of Shade and Sunscreen Found Among Agricultural and Construction Workers In February 2019, a paper on use of sun protection and sunburn among agricultural and construction workers was published in Preventing Chronic Disease.6 About one-third of these outdoor workers had been sunburned in the past year. Agricultural workers had a higher prevalence of almost all sun-protection behaviors compared to construction workers. Prevalence of regular shade and sunscreen use was lower among agricultural and construction workers compared to national estimates. Sunburn Remains Common Among U S Adults Each year, one in three U.S. adults get sunburned. Findings reported in a research letter published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in March 2019 indicate little change in the prevalence of sunburn among U.S. adults in recent years.7 Evidence-based interventions to reduce UV exposure and increase sun protection are available. However, more efforts are needed to help communities adapt and adopt these strategies and programs to meet their unique needs and maximize the likelihood of sustainability of sun-safety interventions over time. National Incidence Rates of Merkel Cell Carcinoma Are on the Rise A research letter published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in April 2019 described Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) incidence, trends, and survival rates among adults aged 50 years and older from United States Cancer Statistics.8 An average of just under 2,000 cases of MCC were diagnosed each year. MCC incidence rates increased over time, and the 5-year relative survival rate was 55.1% among men and 67.7% among women.
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