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Skin cancer facts for your state

EPA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have written fact sheets that give state-specific information about skin cancer incidence and prevention. We are making these publications available to enable decision makers and the public to learn the status of skin cancer in their localities.

Survivor spotlight

Photo of Marcelle Leahy
Marcelle Leahy (Vermont)

Growing up, I was always in the sun and sunburned. All that sun finally caught up to me in 2003 when my new dermatologist decided to biopsy a discolored spot on my face. I’d had it for years, but something about it didn’t feel right. The result: a large melanoma in situ.

The first two operations to remove it weren’t successful, leaving my face disfigured and still with cancer. Mohs surgery was scheduled with a different doctor to remove the rest. After six excisions during the Mohs, an area of skin the size of my palm was removed, and I was finally cancer-free. I learned to be an advocate for my own health, and to keep asking questions. I’ve had at least six nonmelanoma skin cancers removed since, and am always on the lookout for any skin changes.

My advice: we know how to prevent and detect skin cancer, so share your knowledge with your loved ones. I’ll never know which sunburn gave me cancer, but I’ll certainly do all I can to protect my grandchildren from getting one.

Marcelle Leahy likes to make time for cancer prevention, education, and research programs. She is married to Senator Patrick Leahy; they have 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

Annual Rate of New Melanoma Diagnoses, 2001-2005
All Races, Both Sexes, All Ages, Age-adjusted Rates
U.S. map showing each state's rate of melanoma diagnoses in years 2001 through 2005

Please note that delays in reporting melanoma cases to cancer registries are more common since they are usually diagnosed and treated in non-hospital settings such as physician offices. States are grouped into quintiles based on rates of melanoma diagnoses. A quintile is a statistical "block" representing 20% of a total. Because data are available for only 45 states and D.C., four quintiles include nine states, and one includes 10. For example, the ten states with the highest melanoma rates—21.8 to 28.6 diagnoses per 100,000 residents every year—are in the top quintile.

State fact sheets

Each fact sheet has five sections:

  1. A story of survival
  2. State-specific facts
  3. National facts
  4. The importance of prevention
  5. Sun safety action steps

If your state is not listed, check back later. We will make additional fact sheets available as they are completed.

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

Fact sheets about skin cancer incidence, by state
State Fact Sheet
for browsing 		Fact Sheet
for printing 		References
Connecticut CT facts (PDF) (2 pp, 824K) CT facts - print (PDF) (2 pp, 2.2MB) CT references (PDF) (2 pp, 53K)
Idaho ID facts (PDF) (2 pp, 704K) ID facts - print (PDF) (2 pp, 1.7MB) ID references (PDF) (2 pp, 54K)
Maine ME facts (PDF) (2 pp, 765K) ME facts - print (PDF) (2 pp, 1.6MB) ME references (PDF) (2 pp, 53K)
Massachusets
(versions A and B have different survivor stories) 		MA facts "A" (PDF),
MA facts "B" (PDF)
(2 pp, 1.1MB)		 MA facts "A" - print (PDF),
MA facts "B" - print (PDF)
(2 pp, 2.1MB) 		MA references (PDF) (2 pp, 53K)
New Hampshire NH facts (PDF) (2 pp, 968K) NH facts - print (PDF) (2 pp, 1.8MB) NH references (PDF) (2 pp, 53K)
Rhode Island RI facts (PDF) (2 pp, 776K) RI facts - print (PDF) (2 pp, 2.3MB) RI references (PDF) (2 pp, 53K)
Utah UT facts (PDF) (2 pp, 841K) UT facts - print (PDF) (2 pp, 1.9MB) UT references (PDF) (2 pp, 53K)
Vermont VT facts (PDF) (2 pp, 709K) VT facts - print (PDF) (2 pp, 1.4MB) VT references (PDF) (2 pp, 54K)
Washington WA facts (PDF) (2 pp, 884K) WA facts - print (PDF) (2 pp, 1.9MB) WA references (PDF) (2 pp, 54K)

 

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