1Recognizing the month of May 2013 as "Melanoma and Skin Cancer
2Detection and Prevention Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Most people do not realize that the skin is the
4largest and most visible organ of the body and performs many
5essential tasks, such as regulating body temperature, protecting
6internal organs, providing sensation and supporting metabolic
7functions; and

8WHEREAS, Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the
9United States; and

10WHEREAS, Current estimates are that one in five Americans
11will develop skin cancer in their lifetime; and

12WHEREAS, Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer
13and it is the leading cause of death from skin disease; and

1WHEREAS, When detected early, the survival rate for patients
2with melanoma is about 91%, and the survival rate falls to 15%
3for those with advanced disease; and

4WHEREAS, In 2013, the American Cancer Society estimated that
576,250 new cases of melanoma would be diagnosed and that 9,180
6deaths would occur from melanoma; and

7WHEREAS, Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young
8adults between 25 and 29 years of age and the second most common
9form of cancer for adolescents and young adults between 15 and
1029 years of age; and

11WHEREAS, The National Cancer Institute reports that
12approximately $1.9 billion is spent in the United States each
13year on melanoma treatment; and

14WHEREAS, The Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and
15Prevention Month is a public education service designated to
16promote the prevention and early detection of melanoma and other
17skin cancers; therefore be it

18RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
19month of May 2013 as "Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and
20Prevention Month" in Pennsylvania.