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The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention’s premier event, Skin Cancer in America: A Growing Epidemic in the Rayburn House Office building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC served as a call-to-action for Congressional staffers.  Over 50 senate and house offices were represented at the meeting with an overall attendance over 100. In addition to the event, several members scheduled meetings with the health legislative assistants in the Senate and House offices.

The three speakers and co-chairs drove home the messages that skin cancer in the U.S. is rapidly growing while federal funding is decreasing. Marcelle Leahy, wife of Senator Patrick Leahy from Vermont, provided an emotional overview of her battle with melanoma.  Her warm personal style and interaction with her husband in the audience was testimony to the devastating impact of melanoma on families. Darrell Rigel, M.D., a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at New York University Medical Center and a skin cancer expert and researcher in problems related to ultraviolet exposure to the skin, provided an overview of skin cancer and melanoma and the foremost research. Michelle Charlesworth, ABC news anchor and reporter in New York, shared her inspiring and informative personal skin cancer experience. Her story educated Congressional staffers about the consequences and impact of basal cell carcinoma – an issue that often does not get as much attention as cancers with a higher mortality rate. 

Hands-on activities demonstrated the effects of sun damage.  Special ultraviolet machines and cameras provided dramatic views of hidden sun damage on participants’ skin.  In addition, sun safety kits featuring key sun protection and skin cancer prevention messages as well as samples were distributed. ABC News in New York included an extensive feature on skin cancer and the event itself.  The segments featured all of our speakers and included the messages from the Council’s talking points regarding funding and the need for increased skin cancer awareness.