Santana VanDyke, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine, commented to the Manchester (Vt.) Journal about the importance of protecting your skin from the harm rays of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which cause sunburns, skin cancer, and premature aging.
“Being sun safe while you enjoy the great outdoors today is the gift you give yourself decades from now,” said VanDyke. “Protecting yourself today goes a long way to decrease your risk for skin cancers like melanoma, which is deadly. This is especially true in Vermont, which has one of the highest melanoma rates in the country.”
This summer, the UVM Cancer Center will visit communities in Vermont and northern New York in its new Outreach and Education Van. Setting up at farmers’ markets, fairs, and sports events, Cancer Cetner staff will educate communities about skin cancer prevention and detection while distributing resources like sunscreen, hats, and SPF ChapStick.