The American Cancer Society's awareness campaign for skin cancer prevention promotes the slogan Slip! Slop! Slap! and Wrap" which is a catch phrase that reminds people of the 4 key methods they can use to protect themselves from UV radiation. Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around them from ultraviolet light. The Society promotes this message through a variety of media and education activities, as well as through membership in the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention.

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention is comprised or more than 45 organizations dedicated to skin cancer prevention in the United States. The American Cancer Society participates as a core member of the Council and supports "Don't Fry Day" to help save lives. This collaboration supports the Society's nationwide objective of improving behaviors that can prevent skin cancer, and to be a trusted, unbiased source of cancer information.

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day (May 22, 2009) as the launch of "Don't Fry Day," an annual effort to raise awareness of skin cancer prevention. This pre-Memorial Day awareness initiative is designed to help people stay well by raising awareness about the steps people can take to prevent skin cancer.

In 2009 The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention developed key messages to ensure consistent communication about "Don't Fry Day:"

• The Friday before Memorial Day is Don't Fry Day. Protect your skin today and every day.

• Skin cancer is on the rise in the United States.

• The vast majority of skin cancers are caused by overexposure to (ultraviolet) UV radiation.

• Remember, Slip Slop Slap® … and Wrap to reduce your risk of skin cancer.

• Take steps now to protect children from the harmful effects of UV radiation.

The Society is dedicated to working with policy makers to enact laws and policies that will advance the fight against cancer. Major areas of emphasis include: increased investments for cancer research, prevention, early detection, and care; increased access to quality care, screening, and prevention; and reduced health disparities among the medically underserved.

The extramural grants program of the Society is the largest source of private, not-for-profit cancer research funds in the United States. Current extramural grants for skin/melanoma cancer research total over $35 million. The Surveillance and Health Policy Research department evaluates trends in incidence, mortality, risk factors, and patient care and provides descriptive cancer statistics in a number of publications, among which Cancer Facts & Figures is widely distributed.

In a study published in Cancer in 2009, researchers from the Society's Surveillance and Health Policy Research department reported that teens are still frequenting tanning beds, despite laws restricting tanning bed use in several states. Many are getting burned while doing so, potentially raising their risk of skin cancer later in life.

These findings highlight the need to expand the efforts in improving skin cancer prevention education and facilitate environmental supports and policies that protect this population from harmful effects of solar and non-solar exposure.

The Society estimates more than 1 million new cases of highly curable basal and squamous cell cancers will be diagnosed this year. The most serious form of skin cancer is melanoma, which is diagnosed in about 62,480 people each year and causes about 8,420 deaths. Protecting your skin from the sun could prevent most skin cancers.

The Society promotes early detection of skin cancer among adults. The recommendations include monthly skin self-exam and a cancer-related checkup, including an exam for skin cancer, during periodic health exams.

The American Cancer Society recommends that people limit the amount of time they are in direct sun when the sun's rays are most intense, generally from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; wear protective clothing when they are out in the sun; wear a hat that shades face, neck and ears; wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher on all skin that isn't covered; and protect skin even on cool or cloudy days.

Last Medical Review: 05/06/2009
Last Revised: 05/22/2009