Melanoma, virtually non-existent in the 1930’s, is now estimated to be the fastest growing cancer in the U.S. with 47,700 new cases in 2000. A person’s chance of getting melanoma in his lifetime was 1 in 1,500 in 1935, it rose to 1 in 250 just two decades ago and, today it stands at 1 in 74. This alarming rate of increase has occurred at the same time that sunscreen sales have grown from $18 million in 1972 to almost a half billion dollars today. So in other words, despite people using more and more sunscreen, skin cancer has RISEN. Do people not see this correlation? Do they not understand that it is the chemicals in the sunscreen themselves causing cancer?
Also consider: In the 1930's, people spent a great deal more time outside than they do now. People back then had MORE sun exposure, yet the rates of skin cancer were very low. It is only with the advent of sunscreen, and its popular use, that melanoma rates have risen sharply.
Your thoughts?
2006-07-15
09:11:59
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13 answers
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asked by
spookykid313
5
in
Skin & Body