Tucker says it's no surprise that more men die of skin cancer in Hawaii. Sun is the major environmental component of risk. Which might make sense in Delaware, as well, given the number of beaches, she adds. The rate of death for women in Alaska looks high because of the state's smaller population. Dr. Leland Foshag, associate director of the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, Calif., says that ultraviolet rays from too much sun exposure are the main culprit in melanoma.
Melanoma occurs when pigment cells start dividing uncontrollably.
In fact, in this country the number of new cases of melanoma has more than doubled in the past 20 years. A fair complexion, red or blond hair and blue eyes, is a risk factor for skin cancer, Foshag says. It's a disease primarily in the Caucasian population and people of northern European extraction are at higher risk. What To Do If you do go out in the sun, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends you wear UV-blocking sunglasses and protective clothing. For more information on melanoma, see MelanomaNet or the Melanoma Patients' Information Page .