On FDA's tanning bed ban: An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure
The next ten days are important in preventing more cases of melanoma in 2020, 2030, and beyond. The FDA has taken a big step towards lowering the melanoma risk by proposing to ban indoor tanning for anyone under 18 years of age. The proposal is up for public comments until March 21, giving another week or so to get your voice heard.
That the FDA is taking this strong of a stance shows how serious of an issue it is. Want to know the risks? Here are some of the statistics from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): using a tanning bed under the age of 35 raises your melanoma risk by 59% and increases with each use; researchers estimate that indoor tanning may cause upwards of 400,000 cases of skin cancer in the U.S. each year.
Vanity is a driver of a wild majority of teens, who are also among the least risk-averse populations. Getting that tan look for prom, spring break, or graduation pictures is going to outweigh the dangers that overexposure to UV light presents – if the teens are even aware of the impact (and many aren't). Since "skin cancer" is still a nebulous, far-away concept and impressing classmates and other potential "mates" carries significant immediate influence, hopping in a tanning bed a couple of times can't hurt that much, right?
According to the AAD, "Even one indoor tanning session can increase users' risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by 67 percent and basal cell carcinoma by 29 percent". Young women are particularly vulnerable. Melanoma is the rising in women aged 15-29 and is now the second-most diagnosed cancer in women 20-29. As the AAD points out, "nearly 70 percent of tanning salon patrons are Caucasian girls and young women." Clearly, there is significant risk for young ladies just trying to put their best look forward.
Still not sure? Take a look at a young woman and former tanning bed regular who posted selfies of what skin cancer from tanning has done to her. Or the 27 year old British mother diagnosed with terminal stage IV melanoma ,whose youngest of three girls will know her mostly from the poem she shared online. There are plenty more stories of young ladies whose indoor tanning has led to melanoma – and these are the survivor stories. Not all end up so well, as Ashley Trenner's mother attested.
I am less in favor of overly intrusive government, but there is also a common sense/wisdom with age thing here. 15 or so years of life cannot possibly prepare someone to properly understand all of the toxic things one can expose themselves to, much less the best and safest ways to handle them. Add high school hormones and insecurities to the list, and you see why teens are prime targets for the tanning bed industry. Melanoma and skin cancer awareness isn't always at the top of every health education class – check out any beach or pool this summer for the thousands who don't know or disregard the need for being safe in the sun.
Take a minute to look at the bill. It is 2 minutes of your day. Think about supporting the FDA's initiative. Consider the statistic. Remember the testimonials. Decide if kids are able to determine, on their own, if increasing their cancer risk is OK just to look better. Ultimately, put yourself in the shoes of a parent who doesn't know the risks or understand the consequences of bartering darker pigmentation for possible future malignancy. Let the FDA know that in melanoma and other skin cancers, an ounce of prevention is worth well more than a pound of cure.
T.J. Sharpe shares his fight against Stage 4 Melanoma in the Patient #1 blog. Read more »