May 3, 2013

Legislator Ford Declares May as “Melanoma Awareness Month”

Nassau Legislator Denise Ford and fellow Legislators Rose Marie Walker, Joseph Belesi, Rose Marie Walker, Michael Venditto and Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves, along with County Executive Ed Mangano and the Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign (CCMAC), announced that May is “Melanoma Awareness Month” in Nassau County.

Skin cancer and Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in America but can be prevented or cured through early diagnosis. Someone dies hourly from this disease. 2012 statistics show that one in five will get some form of skin cancer.Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and has a lifetime risk of 1 in 50. By comparison, in 1935, the disease struck only 1 in 1,500. Few people realize that Melanoma is the most common form of cancer in young adults 20 – 35 year old and second most common among 15-29 years old. Statistics indicate there will be more than 76,250 new cases of Melanoma in the United States and more than 9,180 people who will die of this disease, which translates into one death from Melanoma every hour of every day.

“Living by the beach offers us many reasons to get outside and enjoy the sun, but I want to remind everyone to be mindful of overexposure to the sun. Please use sunscreen and see your dermatologist if you notice anything unusual on your skin,” said Legislator Ford. 

Mrs. Coyne of CCMAC urged the importance of prevention and tanning bed safety.  The Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign was formed in 1998 after Mrs. Coyne’s thirty-year old daughter died from skin cancer.  The foundation’s mission is to raise public awareness about skin cancer/Melanoma, while changing behavior towards excessive sun exposure.

Pictured (l-r, back row): Legislator Michael Venditto; Legislator Joe Belesi; Legislator Denise Ford; Dr. Joseph Onorato of All Island Dermatology. (L-r, front row): NCPD Officer and Melanoma Survivor Sharon Galvin; Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves; Mrs. Coyne; County Executive Ed Mangano; Legislator Rose Walker; Legislator Robert Troiano and Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein.