BALTIMORE – The upcoming Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer.

But the sun safety campaign is already underway, with Skin Cancer Awareness Month in May.

Dr. Lawrence Mark, an associate professor of clinical dermatology at Indiana University, says prevention is key, along with early detection.

He cautions that people with fair skin and lighter colored hair and eyes are typically more prone to skin cancer, but that doesn't preclude it in those with darker complexions.

Mark cites several factors to consider when sizing up your overall risk.

"'I used a tanning bed multiple times,' he says. 'I got multiple blistering, peeling sunburns. I have a family history of first-degree relatives with melanoma.' You compound those all together, and you get higher and higher levels of risk."

About 1,300 Marylanders are diagnosed with melanoma each year.

Mark adds that the sun should not be considered an enemy, as it helps us produce vitamin D. But it doesn't take much time outdoors to get enough.

"Even if you are wearing sunscreen, you're actually not blocking 100 percent of the sun's rays when you do that,” he says. “And so, if someone is out with sunscreen on, they're still producing vitamin D nonetheless."

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

Mark says while it accounts for less than 5 percent of all skin cancer cases, it also results in the most deaths.

His advice is to check carefully for changes in your skin.

"Look out for an ugly duckling,” he advises. “You may have some brown freckles, some rough spots here and there, but if you've got this thing that is out of the ordinary – it's not like any of the others, I mean, there's something odd – that should be a sign to say, 'I should have somebody evaluate that.'"

Mark says wear a hat and long sleeves outdoors, and use sunscreen with a skin protection factor or SPF of 30 or higher.

Also, avoid time in the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

State research shows that 68 percent of Marylanders follow those guidelines.




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New Mexico saw record enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act this year and is now setting its sights on lowering out-of-pocket costs - those not reimbursed by insurance. More than 56,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in a medical health insurance plan on the state exchange - an increase of 12,000 people overall.

Colin Baillio, deputy superintendent with the state's Office of Insurance, said the state has boosted its outreach and made efforts to improve the overall consumer experience.

"We saw a 40% year-over-year increase, and New Mexico saw the biggest percentage increase during the open-enrollment period among all of the state-based marketplaces," he explained

Part of the enrollment increase is due to what's called the "unwinding" - a federal directive that required all states to redetermine Medicaid eligibility following a three-year pause on checks during the COVID pandemic. He said by using expanded tools made available by the federal and state government, 8% of New Mexico's population is now uninsured - down from 23% in 2010.

Following approval by lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session, the New Mexico governor signed seven health care-related bills into law - one of which requires annual reporting of prescription drug pricing. Baililo said the Affordable Care Act built the foundation that has allowed the state to pursue additional affordability initiatives.

"I'm really glad to see that there's so much interest in the next step of health reform, really leaning into these out-of-pocket cost issues and making it easier for people to afford to stay covered and see their doctors," he continued.

Two years ago, the state also passed a one-of-a-kind law that did away with behavioral health co-pays for people in certain insurance plans.

New York's medical aid-in-dying bill is gaining further support. The Medical Society of the State of New York is supporting the bill. New York's bill allows terminally ill people with only six months to live to use this option, with safeguards requiring two physicians' approval.

The bill's Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin, D-Westchester, said despite the growing support, other hurdles lie ahead.

"Now we have what I believe, if it came to the floor, a majority. There's still a hesitation on the part of leadership. You know, we need members to assure leadership that they no longer have reservations," she said.

Other newly resolved concerns center on making sure insurance companies and doctors who don't support this aren't held liable. She's optimistic the bill will pass after nine years in the Legislature. New York would be the 11th state along with Washington, D.C. to have medical aid in dying legislation.

Corinne Carey, senior New York campaign director with Compassion and Choices finds the pandemic drew a vivid picture of a person's end-of-life experience. There were images of people dying on ventilators, apart from loved ones, and unable to communicate. She said people began thinking about a "good death."

"And, what is a good death is being surrounded by loved ones, having some measure of control, experiencing the touch of your loved ones, and being the one in the driver's seat," she explained.

Now people have different options for end-of-life care, each of which presents various challenges. Polls show medical aid in dying has garnered considerable support since being introduced in 2015. A 2022 Compassion and Choices poll finds 57% of nurses support medical aid in dying professionally, although fewer support it personally.

The California State Assembly is considering a bill to require schools to have a cardiac arrest response plan. Assembly Bill 2887 would make sure schools update their safety plans to include CPR training and an automatic external defibrillator or AED onsite.

Dr. Stephen Sanko, a professor of clinical emergency medicine at USC, and a founding member of the Cardiac Arrest Survivor Alliance, is a volunteer expert for the American Heart Association. He said having a plan in place is critical.

"The American Heart Association is promoting that schools have a cardiac arrest response plan. A written protocol for what to do in order to decrease the likelihood that if somebody collapses, that they die," he said.

Two years ago, 15-year-old Cash Hennessy collapsed on the football field due to a previously unknown heart defect. Two off-duty medics in the stands gave him CPR. The school brought out its AED - but it was useless, because the batteries were dead.

Hennessy said the experience was traumatic.

"I feel blessed that I had people there for me, that could give me C-P-R. But I think about if those people weren't there and that was another kid, who knows what would have happened? Because there wouldn't have been an AED to save them," he explained.

An AED walks people through the steps to deliver a life-saving shock to a person's heart until an ambulance arrives. Studies show that 70% of kids who suffer sudden cardiac arrest at school recover if an AED is deployed correctly - whereas the survival rate for kids and adults not in the hospital is less than 12%.