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Nearly half of all new cancers are skin cancers.

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According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year.

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About 80 percent of the new skin cancer cases will be basal cell carcinoma, 16 percent are squamous cell carcinoma, and 4 percent are melanoma.

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Both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma have a better that 95 percent cure rate if detected early.

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The American Cancer Society states an estimated 9,800 people will die of skin cancer this year, 7,600 from melanoma and 2,200 from other skin cancers.

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There will be about 91,900 new cases of melanoma in 2003. This is a 4 percent increase in new cases of melanoma from 2002. In 2003, at current rates, one in 39 Americans has a lifetime risk of developing invasive melanoma.

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The American Cancer Society also says one person dies of melanoma every hour. In 2003, 7,600 deaths will be attributed to melanoma – 4,700 men and 2,900 women.

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The incidence of melanoma more than tripled among Caucasians between 1980 and 2003.

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More than 77 percent of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma.

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Melanoma is more common than any non-skin cancer among women between 25 and 29 years old.

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Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in men and the seventh most common cancer in women. (Excluding basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which together are most common cancers in both sexes.)

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Seek shade whenever possible. Remember “No shadow…seek the shade!” If your shadow is shorter that you are, the damaging rays of the sun are at their strongest and you’re likely to sunburn.

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Wear protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and long-sleeved shirt and pants during prolonged periods of sun exposure.

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Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15 or higher, 15-30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours, especially when playing, gardening, swimming, or doing any other outdoor activities. Sunscreens should not be used to increase the time spent in intense sunlight or instead of protective clothing.