1. © 2002 - 2004 Melanoma Education Foundation
THE SKINCHECKTM CURRICULUM TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT SKIN CANCER Health Educator Training for a One Class Session on Skin Cancer / Melanoma
© Melanoma Education Foundation
Melanoma Education Foundation

2. Melanoma Education Foundation
OVERVIEW
MELANOMA EDUCATION FOUNDATION
TYPES OF SKIN CANCER
MELANOMA INCIDENCE WARNING SIGNS STATISTICS SELF-DETECTION RISK FACTORS
ULTRAVIOLET EXPOSURE SUN & TANNING LAMP DANGERS SUN PROTECTION SUNLESS TANNING
WHY STUDENTS DON’T KNOW ABOUT MELANOMA
VIEW “SUNSPOTS” VIDEO
SUGGESTED TEACHING STRATEGY & EMPHASIS
Melanoma Education Foundation

3. MELANOMA EDUCATION FOUNDATION
PEABODY-BASED PREVENTIVE HEALTH ORGANIZATION
BEGAN SERVICES 3/99; INCORPORATED IN MA 8/00, NON-PROFIT 501(c) (3)
FUNDED BY GRANTS, SPECIAL EVENTS, INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS
7 BOARD MEMBERS, 5 PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS, SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS
MOST BOARD MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY MELANOMA
Melanoma Education Foundation

4. LIVES CLAIMED BY MELANOMA
Susan Tobia LeBlanc Age 30 (2000)
Daniel Fine Age 26 (1998)
Dennis Danowski Age 35 (1989)
Gordon Thornton Age 50 (1999)
Joel Schoen Age 54 (1997)
Karl Kiklis Age 30 (2002)
Jennifer Tietgen
Age 27 (2002)
Melanoma Education Foundation

5. Melanoma Education Foundation
MEF SERVICES
HIGH SCHOOL / MIDDLE SCHOOL SERVICES - ON-SITE HEALTH EDUCATOR TRAINING - CLASSROOM LESSON PLANS - STUDENT LITERATURE & VIDEOTAPES
ON-SITE SEMINARS FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
PARTICIPATE IN AREA HEALTH & WELLNESS EVENTS
COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL WEB SITE
Melanoma Education Foundation

6. SCHOOLS CURRENTLY USING SKINCHECKTM CLASS
Academy of Notre Dame High School (Tyngsboro)
Acton-Boxborough Regional High School
Amesbury High School
Andover High School
Arlington High Schoo
Ashland High Schooll
Ayer High School
Bartlett High School (Webster)
Bedford High School
Belmont High School
Beverly High School
Billerica Middle Schools (2)
Bishop Fenwick High School (Peabody)
Bourne High School
Braintree Middle Schools (2)
Brockton High School
Brookline High School
Burlington High School
Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School
Chatham High School
Chelsea High School
Cohasset High School
Concord Carlisle High School
Danvers High School
Dracut Senior High School
Durfee High School (Fall River)
Enfield High School (CT)
Everett High School
Framingham High School
Galvin Middle School (Wakefield)
Gardner High School
Georgetown High School
Gloucester High School
Granby Senior High School
Greater Lawrence Reg Voc Tech H.S.
Greater Lowell Technical High School
Groton-Dunstable Regional High School
Hamilton-Wenham High School
Harwich High School
Hopedale Jr/Sr High School
Hopkinton High School
Hudson High School
Ipswich High School
Lexington High School
Lincoln-Sudbury High School
Littleton High School
Lowell High School
Lynnfield High School
Lynn Middle Schools (4)
Lynnfield Middle School
Malden High School
Manchester High School
Marblehead High School
Masconomet Regional High School
Mashpee High School
Maynard High School
Medford High School
Medford Vocational Technical High School
Melrose Middle School
Melrose High School
Methuen High School
Minuteman Technical High School
Monson High School
Nashoba Valley Technical High School
Natick High School
Nauset Regional High School
Needham High School
Newton Middle Schools (4)
Norfolk County Agricultural High School
North Andover High School
North Reading High School
North Shore Technical High School
Northeast Metro Regional Voc Tech High School
Norwell High School
Peabody Veterans Memorial High School
Pentucket Regional High School
Plymouth North High School
Plymouth South High School
Quaboag Regional High School
Reading High School
Revere Middle Schools (2)
Rockport Middle School
St. John’s Preparatory High School (Danvers)
Sacred Heart High School (Kingston)
Salem High School
Saugus High School
Scarborough High School (ME)
Scarborough Middle School (ME)
Sharon High School
Shawsheen Valley Technical High School
Shrewsbury High School
Shrewsbury Middle School
Somerville High School
Southbridge High School
Swampscott High School
Tewksbury High School
Triton Regional High School
Tyngsborough Junior/Senior High School
Wakefield High School
Waltham High School
Wareham High School
Wareham Middle School
Watertown High School
Wellesley High School
Westborough High School
Weston High School
Westport High School
Weymouth High School
Whitman-Hanson Regional High School
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School
Wilmington High School
Winchester High School
Winthrop High School
Woburn High School
Melanoma Education Foundation

7. COMPARISON OF COMMON SKIN CANCERS
Melanoma Education Foundation

8. Melanoma Education Foundation
BASAL CELL CARCINOMA
RAISED TRANSLUCENT PINK WAXY NODULE
OCCURS IN SUN-EXPOSED SKIN
SLOW GROWING
MAY CAUSE LOCAL DISFIGURE-MENT IF NOT TREATED
SELDOM FATAL
NCI Photo
Melanoma Education Foundation

9. SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA
FLAT RED SPOT THAT BECOMES ROUGH, DRY, SCALY
OCCURS ON HEAVILY SUN-EXPOSED SKIN
MAY GROW AND SPREAD INTERNALLY IF UNTREATED
MAY BE FATAL BUT USUALLY NOT
NCI Photo
Melanoma Education Foundation

10. U.S. MELANOMA STATISTICS
55,100 NEW CASES PREDICTED IN 2004
MORE PREVALENT THAN NEW HIV / AIDS INFECTIONS
NEW MELANOMA DEATH EVERY HOUR
INCIDENCE: % OF NEW CASES OCCUR UNDER AGE MOST PREVALENT CANCER IN AGE GROUP - LEADING CANCER KILLER IN WOMEN AGE INCREASING AT EPIDEMIC RATE
Melanoma Education Foundation

11. MORE BAD NEWS ABOUT MELANOMA
VULNERABILITY INCREASES THROUGHOUT LIFE
STRIKES REGARDLESS OF HEALTH, PHYSICAL CONDITION, OR COMPLEXION
NO FAMILY HISTORY IN 90% OF NEW CASES
OFTEN FATAL IF NOT DETECTED EARLY
USUALLY NO SYMPTOMS (EXCEPT VISUAL) UNTIL TOO LATE
INCURABLE WHEN IT SPREADS TO INTERNAL ORGANS
RISK FROM SUN EXPOSURE IS CUMULATIVE & IRREVERSIBLE
Melanoma Education Foundation

12. IS THERE ANY GOOD NEWS ABOUT MELANOMA?
EASIEST OF ALL CANCERS TO SELF-DETECT EARLY
NEARLY GUARANTEED CURABLE WHEN FOUND EARLY
REMOVAL IS PAINLESS, QUICK, DONE IN DOCTOR’S OFFICE WITH LOCAL ANESTHETIC
NO CHEMOTHERAPY OR RADIATION REQUIRED WHEN REMOVED AT EARLY STAGE
Melanoma Education Foundation

13. Melanoma Education Foundation
MELANOMA RISK FACTORS
INHERITED - MORE THAN 50 NORMAL MOLES - ANY ATYPICAL MOLES - FAIR SKIN, LIGHT COMPLEXION, BLOND OR RED HAIR, BLUE OR GREEN EYES, FRECKLES - FAMILY OR PERSONAL HISTORY OF ANY SKIN CANCER
BEHAVIORAL - ANY BLISTERING SUNBURNS UNDER AGE SPORADIC EXPOSURE OF NORMALLY COVERED SKIN - REGULAR USE OF TANNING BEDS, FREQUENT SUNNING
AVERAGE LIFETIME RISKS* WHITE POPULATION: 1 IN 65 ASIANS AND HISPANICS: IN AFRICAN AMERICANS: 1 IN * MAY BE MUCH HIGHER IF YOU HAVE ANY RISK FACTORS
Melanoma Education Foundation

14. NORMAL AND ATYPICAL MOLES (NCI Photos)
NORMAL MOLES: sharp borders, uniform color, less than 1/4” wide
ATYPICAL MOLES HAVE ONE OR MORE: fuzzy borders, nonuniform shades, “fried egg” surface, more than 1/4” wide
Melanoma Education Foundation

15. WARNING SIGNS OF MELANOMA
CHANGE IN A MOLE, FRECKLE, BIRTHMARK, BLEMISH OR OTHER PIGMENTED LESION SIZE, COLOR, SHAPE, SURFACE, OR THICKNESS
IN ADULTS: A NEW MOLE THAT APPEARS SUDDENLY
COLOR EXTENDING INTO SURROUNDING SKIN
DON’T WAIT FOR: ITCHING, BLEEDING, ULCERATION
Melanoma Education Foundation

16. PHOTOS OF SOME MELANOMAS
MELANOMAS OFTEN HAVE TWO OR MORE “ABCDE” PROPERTIES:
A - ASYMMETRY: ONE HALF UNLIKE OTHER HALF
B - BORDER: UNEVEN, NOTCHED, AND/OR FUZZY
C - COLOR: MULTIPLE COLORS AND/OR SHADES D - DIAMETER: GREATER THAN 1/4”
E - ELEVATION: INCREASES DURING INVASIVE PHASE
Melanoma Education Foundation

17. WHY IS THICKNESS SO IMPORTANT?
EPIDERMIS
DERMIS
SUBCUTANEOUS
LAYERS
NON-INVASIVE
INVASIVE
INVASIVE
RADIAL GROWTH
PHASE
VERTICAL GROWTH
PHASE
CURABLE
OFTEN FATAL
HIGH CURABILITY WHEN THICKNESS IS 1 mm OR LESS
Melanoma Education Foundation

18. Melanoma Education Foundation
NODULAR MELANOMAS
MOST DANGEROUS TYPE
ACCOUNTS FOR ~ 20% OF MELANOMAS
BEGINS VERTICAL INVASIVE PHASE IMMEDIATELY
NO ABCD CHANGES, ONLY E
MUST ACT QUICKLY IF YOU SEE POSSIBLE SIGNS
Melanoma Education Foundation

19. WHERE ON THE SKIN DOES MELANOMA OCCUR?
ANYWHERE, INCLUDING UNEXPOSED AREAS
MOST COMMON LOCATIONS IN WHITE MALES: BACK AND TRUNK IN WHITE FEMALES: LEGS AND TRUNK IN AFRICAN AMERICANS: SOLES, PALMS TOES, FINGERS, & UNDER NAILS
Melanoma Education Foundation

20. Melanoma Education Foundation
HOW TO CHECK YOUR SKIN
Use wall mirror, hand mirror w/long handle, flashlight, & hairbrush or dryer.
Be thorough: check head to toes, front, back & sides.
Have family member check back and scalp if necessary.
Check once every month.
Melanoma Education Foundation

21. ULTRAVIOLET EXPOSURE & MELANOMA
UV RADIATION FROM SUN EXPOSURE INCREASES RISK OF MELANOMA:  UVB - CAUSES SUNBURNS UVA - DOESN’T BURN BUT PENETRATES SKIN DEEPER
SPF RATING OF SUNSCREENS BASED ON UVB ONLY
UVA INTENSITY FROM TANNING BEDS TIMES GREATER THAN FROM SUN EXPOSURE
REGULAR TANNING BED USE (10 TIMES OR MORE/YEAR) UNDER AGE 30 INCREASES RISK OF MELANOMA 7.7 TIMES
HAZE, CLOUDS, COLD WEATHER, AND WATER DO NOT PREVENT UV DAMAGE
LIGHT SURFACES CAUSE EXPOSURE BY REFLECTION
Melanoma Education Foundation

22. Melanoma Education Foundation
SUN PROTECTION
COMBINATION PROTECTION IS MOST EFFECTIVE: - Minimize exposure from10 am to 4 pm - Stay in shade whenever possible - Wear protective clothing, including hat w/wide brim - Apply sunscreen of SPF ≥ 30 heavily and reapply often (choose product with UVA and UVB protection)
WEAR UV-PROTECTIVE GLASSES % protection only if labeled: UV 400, % UV Protection, or Meets ANSI UV Requirements
PROTECT AGAINST REFLECTED UV - Beach umbrellas provide only ~ 50% protection
Melanoma Education Foundation

23. Melanoma Education Foundation
SUNLESS BRONZING
Before sunless tanning
THE ONLY SAFE WAY TO TAN
DYE THE OUTER (DEAD) LAYER OF SKIN
SPRAY BOOTHS EASIEST WAY - MIST-ON TAN & MYSTIC TAN BOTH GOOD
“DO IT YOURSELF” BRONZER REQUIREMENTS - MATCH PRODUCT TO SKIN TYPE - PROPER APPLICATION
HAS DETAILED INFO.
After sunless tanning
Melanoma Education Foundation

24. CDC MELANOMA KNOWLEDGE SURVEY (1996)
AGE : 74 % HAD LITTLE OR NO KNOWLEDGE OF MELANOMA
GENERAL POPULATION: 45% HAD LITTLE OR NO KNOWLEDGE OF MELANOMA
CONSEQUENCE: FATAL KNOWLEDGE GAP AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS AT TIME OF INCREASING VULNERABILITY
Melanoma Education Foundation

25. STUDENT PERCEPTIONS & BEHAVIORS
MOST BELIEVE THAT: - SKIN CANCER IS NO BIG DEAL - HAPPENS MOSTLY TO OLDER PEOPLE - TANNING BEDS ARE SAFE WAY TO TAN
2002 SKIN CANCER FOUNDATION SURVEY (50 STATES) /3 OF YOUTHS AGED USE NO SUNSCREEN % OF YOUTHS SUNBURN DURING SUMMER GIRLS AND TANNING BEDS AGE PERCENTAGE USING TANNING BEDS % % %
Melanoma Education Foundation

26. PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION “SYSTEM”
PARENTS
SCHOOLS & COLLEGES
PRIMARY CARE
PHYSICIANS
HEALTH
KNOWLEDGE
GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES
MEDIA
NON-PROFIT
HEALTH
ORGANIZATIONS
Melanoma Education Foundation

27. WHY ARE YOUNG PEOPLE UNINFORMED ABOUT MELANOMA ?
NOT TAUGHT EFFECTIVELY, OR AT ALL, IN MOST HIGH SCHOOLS
LACK OF PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE
MOST PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS DON’T CONDUCT COMPLETE SKIN EXAMS OR EDUCATE PATIENTS
LIMITED MEDIA ATTENTION
NO ACTIVE OUTREACH BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES & LARGE NON-PROFITS
Melanoma Education Foundation

28. Melanoma Education Foundation
WHY SUN PROTECTION IS THE WRONG PRIMARY EMPHASIS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
DOESN’T ADDRESS RISK FROM 80% LIFETIME EXPOSURE THEY ALREADY HAVE BY AGE 18
WON’T PREVENT MELANOMA UNRELATED TO SUN EXPOSURE (~30%)
REQUIRES MAJOR, UNACCEPTABLE LIFE-STYLE CHANGE FOR MANY
SUGGESTED EDUCATION EMPHASIS VS. AGE:
SUN PROTECTION
MELANOMA AWARENESS
AGE
0 - 10
11-14
15 - ADULT
Melanoma Education Foundation

29. COMPONENTS OF ONE SESSION SKIN CANCER CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS
SUNSPOTS VIDEO
“SEE SPOT” BOOKMARK TO COMPLEMENT VIDEO
DETAILED CLASSROOM LESSON PLAN
SUGGESTED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FOR HOMEWORK OR QUIZ
“A TAN TO DIE FOR” (PHOTOCOPY FOR STUDENTS)
Melanoma Education Foundation

30. SUGGESTED CLASSROOM OUTLINE FOR MELANOMA / SKIN CANCER SESSION
START BY ASKING HOW MANY HAVE HAD SUNBURNS, USE TANNING BEDS, AND HAVE HAD SKIN CANCER IN FAMILY
SHOW SUNSPOTS VIDEO (16”)
FOLLOW-UP: DID VIDEO CHANGE ATTITUDES ABOUT SUN EXPOSURE AND SKIN CANCER?
DISTRIBUTE “SEE SPOT” BOOKMARK AND “A TAN TO DIE FOR”
DISCUSS VULNERABILITY, RISK FACTORS, WARNING SIGNS, MONTHLY SELF-EXAM (USE BOOKMARK), AND TANNING BEDS
HOMEWORK OPTIONS: VISIT SKINCHECK.ORG AND - LIST ALL MELANOMA WARNING SIGNS - LIST YOUR PERSONAL RISK FACTORS - MARK LOCATIONS OF ANY ATYPICAL MOLES ON BODY OUTLINE SHEET (CD) - TEACH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT MELANOMA
Melanoma Education Foundation

31. SKINCHECKTM CURRICULUM PARTICIPATING SCHOOL PROVISIONS & REQUIREMENTS
ON-GOING NO-COST PROGRAM, CONTINUES EVERY YEAR - “SEE SPOT” BOOKMARKS FOR ALL PARTICIPATING STUDENTS ON-SITE TEACHER TRAINING FOR NEW STAFF MEMBERS
REQUIREMENTS - USE “SUNSPOTS” VIDEO & “SEE SPOT” BOOKMARKS IN MANDATORY COURSE(S) - ALL EDUCATORS PRESENTING SUBJECT ATTEND TRAINING
Melanoma Education Foundation

32. QUIZ QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
By the time the average person is 18 he or she has received approximately what percentage of their lifetime sun exposure? 100% 80% 50% %
When adjusted for age and population, U.S. melanoma incidence is highest in sunbelt states highest in northern states highest in coastal states similar in all states
Three or more blistering sunburns under age 20 increase an individuals lifetime chance of developing melanoma by a factor of
Use of tanning beds 10 times or more per year under age 30 increases an individuals lifetime risk of melanoma by a factor of:
The primary characteristic of a melanoma that determines whether it is likely to be curable or fatal is diameter color thickness shape
Melanoma Education Foundation

33. CELEBRITIES WITH MELANOMA
DIED OF MELANOMA EVA CASSIDY (AGE 33) BOB MARLEY (AGE 36) MAUREEN REAGAN (AGE 60) BURGESS MEREDITH (AGE 89)
ALIVE TROY AIKMAN SAM DONALDSON CONNIE MACK JOHN MCCAIN GLENN PARKER VAN STEPHENSON
Melanoma Education Foundation

34. M.E.F. WEB SITE (WWW.SKINCHECK.ORG)
COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL SITE INFORMATION, PHOTOS, ILLUSTRATIONS
PRIMARY FOCUS: EARLY DETECTION
DOWNLOADABLE DOCUMENTS - “JEOPARDY” BASED HS/MS LESSON PLAN PAGE MELANOMA SUMMARY - SELF EXAM INSTRUCTIONS - TANNING BEDS: “A TAN TO DIE FOR” - “WHAT TO DO IF” INSTRUCTIONS
REFERENCES & LINKS FOR ADDT’L RESOURCES
Melanoma Education Foundation