No-cost online lessons have saved lives of students, teachers and their family members
PEABODY, Mass., October 23, 2018 (Newswire.com)
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The non-profit Melanoma Education Foundation announced that their award-winning online skin cancer/melanoma lessons are now available at no cost in all 50 states for high school and middle school health, physical education and science teachers.
In a 2017 survey among 334 teachers, 49 students reported finding early melanomas because of the MEF lessons.
In a 2017 survey among 334 teachers, 49 students reported finding early melanomas because of the MEF lessons.
Stephen A. Fine, President, Melanoma Education Foundation
The American Cancer Society projects 178,560 new U.S. cases of melanoma in 2018, more than triple the number of new HIV/AIDS cases. Most teens and health teachers are unaware of the seriousness of melanoma, which is often fatal if not detected early. Melanoma is the most prevalent cancer in the 25-to-29-year age group and second to breast cancer in the 20-to-39-year age group.
The concise student lessons were developed from teen student focus groups input. There are separate high school and middle school videos and also a teacher video. All three videos won Gold Triangle awards from the American Academy of Dermatology.
Some widely held beliefs about skin cancer and melanoma are incorrect according to Dr. Stephen Fine, president and health educator of MEF for 20 years.
- ABCDE melanoma warning signs are not adequate.
- SPF is NOT the most important measure of sunscreen effectiveness.
- Sun-safety-based skin cancer lessons do not change teen behavior.
Links to Free Resources
Media Contact:
Dr. Stephen Fine
Phone: 978-535-3080
Email: [email protected]
Source: Melanoma Education Foundation
