Bill Text: NJ SJR18 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Designates May of each year as "Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month" and first Monday in May as "Melanoma Monday."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-06-22 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee [SJR18 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-SJR18-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 18

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 4, 2016

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  ROBERT W. SINGER

District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Designates May of each year as "Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month" and first Monday in May as "Melanoma Monday."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on May 1 , 2017, with amendments.

 

A Joint Resolution designating May of each year as "Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month," and the first Monday in May as "Melanoma Monday" in New Jersey.

 

Whereas, Skin cancer occurs when ultraviolet radiation from the sun and tanning beds damages skin cells, and triggers mutations that cause the cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors; and

Whereas, Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with ¹[more than 3.5 million] millions of¹ new cases diagnosed each year; and

¹[Whereas, It is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of their lifetimes; and]¹

Whereas, Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer and the leading cause of death from skin disease; and

Whereas, The American Cancer Society estimates that, in ¹[2014, 76,100] 2017, 87,110¹ new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the United States, and ¹[9,710] 9,730¹ people will die from melanoma; and

Whereas, Melanomas, which often resemble moles and are about the size of a pencil eraser, can be recognized by their asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, and evolving size, shape, and color; and

Whereas, Melanoma is almost always curable if it is recognized and treated early, but if melanoma is not detected, it can spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes harder to treat and is often fatal; and

Whereas, Melanoma is the ¹third¹ most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the ¹[second] fourth¹ most common form of cancer for young people 15-29 years old; and

¹[Whereas, A person's risk for developing melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns, and triples if the person occasionally uses a tanning bed; and]¹

Whereas, ¹[Even one indoor tanning session increases] Tanning sessions increase¹ the user's chance of developing melanoma by ¹[20] 59¹ percent ¹[, and each additional session during the same year increases the user's risk by another two percent] when used before the age of 35¹; and

Whereas, A person also has a higher chance of developing melanoma if he or she has a large number of moles, fair skin, a weakened immune system, or a personal or family history of melanoma; and

Whereas, ¹[The National Cancer Institute estimated that the cost of treating melanoma in 2010 was $2.36 billion] A recent cohort study from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which followed a group of 61.2 million youth aged 14 years or younger in the U.S., found that restricting indoor tanning among minors younger than 18 years would prevent an estimated 61,839 melanoma cases and an estimated 6,725 melanoma deaths, and would save the U.S. an estimated $342.9 million in treatment costs over the group's lifetime¹; and

Whereas, ¹[These] Treatment¹ costs ¹associated with skin cancer¹ will continue to rise, as incidences of melanoma climb nearly two percent annually in the United States, and five percent annually in New Jersey; and

Whereas, People can significantly reduce their chances of developing melanoma by limiting their time in the sun when rays are most intense between 10 AM and 4 PM, wearing protective clothing, and applying sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least ¹[15] 30¹; and

Whereas, People are also advised to examine their skin regularly for the warning signs of melanoma, and to see their physicians ¹[annually]¹ for a professional skin exam ¹if they are at high risk, or are concerned¹; and

Whereas, Greater recognition of the dangers of skin cancer, particularly melanoma, and of the importance of preventative measures and early detection, is needed among all residents of the State; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The month of May each year shall be designated as "Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month," and the first Monday of May each year shall be designated "Melanoma Monday," in order to recognize the dangers of melanoma and other skin cancers and to promote prevention and early detection among residents of the State. 

 

     2.    The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation recognizing May as "Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month" and the first Monday in May as "Melanoma Monday," and shall call upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe the month and day with appropriate activities and programs.

 

     3.    This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.