ASDS announces support for 'call to action' on skin cancer

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery announced in a press release its support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent measures to fight skin cancer.

The CDC’s Skin Cancer Prevention Progress Report builds upon 2014’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer issued by Deputy Surgeon General Rear Adm. Boris Lushniak, MD, MPH, who was then acting Surgeon General, to establish skin cancer prevention as a national priority while identifying strategies to reverse the trend of rising skin cancer rates, according to the release.

The Call to Action goals included increased opportunities for sun protection in outdoor settings, providing people with information to make informed decisions about UV exposure, promoting policies that advance prevention of skin cancer, reducing harm from indoor tanning, and strengthening research and surveillance related to the prevention of skin cancer, the release reported.

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association (ASDSA), which provides a vehicle for advocacy and public education efforts on behalf of dermatologic surgeons and their patients, take part in initiatives with those objectives, according to the release. Skin cancer treatments were the most performed procedure by ASDS members in 2014, with 3.08 million procedures.

George J. Hruza

“Our members take a comprehensive approach to battling skin cancer — from diligent diagnosis and treatment to creative prevention efforts,” George J. Hruza, MD, MBA, ASDS/ASDSA president, said in the release. “We stand fully committed to serve as an ally to the CDC and the Surgeon General’s Office in this critical mission to fight skin cancer.”

The ASDSA actions include advocating for legislation banning indoor tanning for minors, approving a formal statement about the dangers of indoor tanning, and supporting policies allowing students to apply, carry and store sunscreens at school, according to the release.

ASDS earned national recognition this year for its Choose Skin Health program, in which ASDS members offer free skin cancer screenings and skin cancer prevention materials to patients, according to the release.

An ASDS board-appointed group of dermatologic surgeons released the first-ever consensus recommendations in May for the treatment and management of basal cell carcinoma.

A pair of national public service announcements were released by ASDS to coincide with Skin Cancer Awareness Month in May.

“A problem of this magnitude requires a concerted, societal commitment if we are going to see the desired results,” Hruza said in the release.

Reference: www.asds.net