Maryland Skin Cancer Prevention Program

 

For Educators

For Physicians

Visit SunGuardMan Online

 

About the Program

The mission of the Maryland Skin Cancer Prevention Program (the Program) is to raise skin cancer awareness and provide skin cancer prevention education to the citizens of Maryland. Our goal is to promote behavior that is likely to prevent skin cancer and ultimately to make such behavior so familiar to the citizens of Maryland that it is established as a social norm.

The Program, established in 1997 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been funded since 2001 by a grant from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The Program carries out many of its activities through a coalition of more than fifty dedicated individuals and representatives from diverse public and private organizations who have pledged their commitment to this very important public health issue. The Maryland Skin Cancer Prevention Program is a member of the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention.

 

Program Strategies

The Maryland Skin Cancer Prevention Program carries out objectives identified in the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan.

The Program educates the general public through the SunGuard Man Online website, appearances by the SunGuard Man mascot, the SunSafe Preschool Curriculum, and the SunGuard Your Skin elementary/middle school curriculum and annual Poster Contest. The Program also provides a skin cancer brochure and colorful poster, and exhibits at health fairs and conferences across the state.

The Program works with the medical community in several ways. The Program offers an online continuing medical education program for primary care physicians about recognizing skin cancers, encourages physicians to perform skin exams on all patients, and provides patient education materials. The program encourages physicians to educate patients about skin cancer prevention and to teach them how to perform skin self-examination. The Program provides skin cancer prevention brochures from the American Cancer Society in a lucite display, and a colorful poster that can be displayed in the office or exam rooms. Another resource is the patient information booklet, “I Have Melanoma: Now What?” which was produced as a collaborative effort between the Center for a Healthy Maryland and Johns Hopkins Department of Dermatology. It is available for sale at amazon.com, with proceeds designated for skin cancer education and research.

The Program works to implement policy changes to increase the use of sun-safe behaviors, particularly among Maryland's youth. In 2006, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill that allows students to use the sunscreen they bring to school by ensuring statewide compliance with the Maryland Sun Safety Guidelines. In 2008, the Program provided information to MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, and other key stakeholders which resulted in passage of House Bill 1358 which, as of October 1, 2008, restricts minors from using tanning beds without in-person consent of parents. Read The Truth About Tanning Beds to learn more about the dangers of tanning bed use and download the new tanning bed poster.

 

See Also:

• Skin Cancer Fact Sheet
• The Truth About Tanning Beds
• Skin Cancer 101
• Melanoma Concerns on the Rise as Rates Climb for Women, Remain Steady for Men
• New Study Shows Commercial Indoor Tanning Facilities Outnumber Starbucks, McDonald's
• 10 Ways to SunGuard Your Skin

 

Contact Information

For more information about the Maryland Skin Cancer Prevention Program, please contact:

Roberta M. Herbst, M.S.
Program Manager
Phone: 410-539-0872 or 800-492-1056, ext. 3340
Fax: 410-649-4131
e-mail: rherbst@medchi.org

 

 

Last Updated 7/19/2010