According to the CDC State Cancer Profiles, Nebraska has seen a huge jump in melanoma skin cancers. Dr. Ashley Wysong is a dermatologist and cancer epidemiologist with the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine in Omaha and says this is basically impacting women.
Dr. Wysong says, "Nebraska has seen increases in melanoma in women under the age of 50, from 2011 to 2015, we saw an annual percent increase of 17.8 percent." The national average was 1.5 percent.
Dr. Wysong says some people are at higher risk because of genetics or if they have a higher than normal number of moles. There is also a higher risk for those who use tanning beds.
The American Academy of Dermatology says women under 30 are six times more likely to develop melanoma if they tan indoors.
The Nebraska Cancer Coalition is working to stop this trend through "The Bed is Dead" campaign. The goal is to educate teenage girls and their parents on the dangers of indoor tanning.
Dr. Wysong says Nebraskans need to make wise choices when it comes to protecting themselves and that includes using sunscreen, wearing hats and protective clothing.