Melanoma kills more women between the ages of 25 and 40 than any other form of cancer. But it kills even more men.
According to the American Cancer Society, melanoma will kill 6,470 men and 3,240 women in 2014. And it's metastasizing. Of the seven most common cancers in the United States, melanoma is the only one whose incidence is increasing.
Like lung cancer and other smoking-related illnesses, we often know what causes skin cancer. Research shows that the risk for melanoma increases substantially the more a person is exposed to UV rays in their childhood and teenage years. A study from the World Health Organization found that people who used tanning beds before the age of 35 were 75 percent more likely to get melanoma. A study by the Mayo Clinic discovered an eight-fold increase in the overall incidence of melanoma between 1970 to 2009, which researchers attributed in part to increased use of tanning beds.
The good news is that skin cancer can be prevented for most people by doing a few easy things: (1) avoid tanning beds, (2) use sunscreen, and (3) do self-skin checks.
Tanning bed legislation has triggered vigorous debate in the Capitol. Tanning industry defenders have clouded the issue by claiming that any attempt to limit a child's access to tanning beds is an attack on freedom. When it comes to adults, I lean libertarian. I've voted every year to allow motorcycle riders the freedom to ride without a helmet. Last week, I wrote about legislation to allow adults facing terminal illnesses the right to save their own life by trying drugs that haven't yet been approved by the FDA. And I don't believe government can or should try to force you to buy any health care service or product.
But children are different. Children are not now and have never been "free" - not in my house now or growing up, or in society at large. Nor have businesses ever been "free" to engage in business with children in the same way that they do with adults.
Civilized societies use the law to protect children. The United States Supreme Court has recognized that "children have a special place in life which the law should respect" for at least three reasons: (1) their vulnerability, (2) their inability to make critical decisions in the same manner weighing the risks and benefits as adults; and (3) the obvious importance of parents' in making important decisions for them.
In Missouri and elsewhere, we have dozens of laws which limit or outright criminalize a business from engaging in certain business with children that are completely legal for adults. For example, we criminalize the sale of other known carcinogens like cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to children. We prohibit the sale of alcohol and pornography. We ban child labor outside of family-run farms or businesses. And, like every other state, we only allow businesses to enforce contracts against minors in very limited circumstances.
In this past session, the General Assembly took action to better inform and empower parents. House Bill 1411 , sponsored by Rep. Gary Cross, requires parental consent before a child 17 or younger uses a tanning bed. The Department of Health and Senior Services is charged with developing the content of the consent form which should inform parents of scientific research on the subject.
Incredibly, as we were debating the bill, defenders of the industry once again made their charge for freedom. Never mind the fact that the bill doesn't ban anything, but instead merely requires a business to get permission from a child's parents before exposing the child to known carcinogens. So long as the parent is informed and gives their consent, the business is free to allow a child to hop into their cancer-machine.
Opponents of the bill spoke as if a law like this was unheard of - except Missouri law already requires parental consent to get a tattoo, an aspirin at school, or pierced ears. When this point was presented, opponents claimed, "Well, tattoos and pierced ears are permanent." Sorry, but no, they're not. Tattoos may be a little harder to remove, but piercings close - and neither tattoos nor piercings carry the risk of terminal illness. Skin cancer causes long-term harm. And death from melanoma is as permanent as it gets.
Thankfully, proponents of parental involvement and public health won this year. After three years of tireless work by Rep. Cross on the issue, HB 1411 passed through the Legislature - and was signed into law last week by Gov. Nixon.
State Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, represents Missouri's 60th District.