The North Dakota Cancer Coalition (NDCC) secured a state proclamation from Governor Doug Burgum to raise awareness for skin cancer during May, Skin Cancer Awareness Month. With over 5 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year, skin cancer is America’s most common cancer. More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer.
About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 86 percent of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to UV radiation from the sun. The estimated number of new cases of melanoma cancer of the skin in North Dakota for 2023 is 270/100,000 people. In the past decade (2014-2024), the number of new invasive melanoma cases diagnosed annually in the United States increased by 32 percent.
By securing Governor Burgum’s support by declaring May as Skin Cancer Awareness Month, our Coalition is elevating the message of practicing sun safety to prevent skin cancer.