A CDC Grant Funds IMPACT Melanoma and Harvard School of Public Health Research
Melanoma is the most common form of cancer and the most preventable. At IMPACT Melanoma we are dedicated to increasing awareness of the dangers of the sun’s UV rays and the importance of using sunscreen which can reduce the risk of melanoma by 50%.
In our ongoing prevention education efforts, we are focused on helping develop sun-safe habits at an early age. A targeted population to change behaviors is teenagers in the United States. We have worked hard with legislators and community partners to ban tanning beds in each state (banned in just 21 states today) and to educate teens of the dangers of exposure to the dangerous UV rays in tanning beds that are directly linked to causing skin cancer including its deadliest form, melanoma.
IMPACT Melanoma and the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health were awarded a two-year grant from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to study sunscreen use by teenagers. Part 2 of our IMPACT Melanoma Symposium held at Harvard Medical School presented, for the first time, the results of the study. Dr Alan Geller, RN, MPH from Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health presented the findings of the surveys conducted during the summers of 2023 and 2024 at 16 parks throughout the Greater Boston area and on four beaches in Maine.
Summary findings concluded there are two primary barriers to teenagers using sunscreen: cost and access. Research participants showed a positive intention to use sunscreen in the future which was encouraging.
Addressing both cost and access is where IMPACT Melanoma is making considerable strides across the country to secure more Partners in Prevention to install sunscreen dispensers in cities and communities across the United States with a priority on underserved communities where cost is a significant barrier.
If you are looking to make an impact in your local community, we need more Partners in Prevention to increase awareness and implement prevention education programs including making free sunscreen available in cities and towns across the country.
Learn more here including case studies on where we are providing free sunscreen to save lives.
Watch IMPACT Melanoma’s Recorded Symposium Here.
Part 2 of the Symposium focused on the Sunscreen Use by Teenagers begins at 1:22:05.
Part 1 of the Symposium focuses on advances in melanoma treatments including results of clinical trial studies for individualized vaccines.
Learn more about the 2024 October IMPACT Melanoma Symposium
Learn more about IMPACT Melanoma.
