| R 198 |
| 2018 -- H 8115 Enacted 04/25/2018 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING MAY, 2018, TO BE "NATIONAL MELANOMA AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
| Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Blazejewski, Casimiro, Ackerman, and |
| Date Introduced: April 25, 2018 |
| WHEREAS, Skin cancer is a serious problem for people who spend significant time in |
| the sun outdoors and for those who are exposed to ultraviolet light from indoor tanning beds; and |
| WHEREAS, Melanoma is the most deadly common form of skin cancer; and |
| WHEREAS, Melanoma is the second most common form of cancer for young adults |
| aged 15 through 29; and |
| WHEREAS, Melanoma accounts for a large majority of all skin cancer deaths; and |
| WHEREAS, Melanoma treatment costs approximately $3.3 billion annually in the United |
| States; and |
| WHEREAS, Advocacy, increased awareness, and skin cancer screening will result in a |
| meaningful reduction in the burden of melanoma; and |
| WHEREAS, Melanoma rates have more than doubled in Rhode Island since 1991; and |
| WHEREAS, Professionals at Brown Dermatology, Lifespan Community Health Institute, |
| The American Cancer Society, The Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island and the Rhode |
| Island Department of Health are working diligently together to raise awareness about the dangers |
| of sun exposure and indoor tanning, to promote safe ultraviolet exposure behaviors, to recognize |
| and treat melanoma as early as possible, when it is still curable, and to accomplish the objectives |
| within the 2013-2018 Rhode Island Cancer Prevention and Control Plan; and |
| WHEREAS, Across the nation, the month of May is designated as National Melanoma |
| Awareness Month; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and |
| Providence Plantations hereby proclaims May, 2018, to be "National Melanoma Awareness |
| Month" in the State of Rhode Island and furthermore, encourages all residents to learn more |
| about the prevention of melanoma and other skin cancers; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Joy Hamer, RN, OCN, President of the Board |
| of the American Melanoma Foundation, Ms. Melissa Campbell, Chair, Partnership to Reduce |
| Cancer in Rhode Island, Department of Health, and Dr. John Kawaoka, Brown Dermatology. |
| ======== |
| LC005459 |
| ======== |