Melanoma claims another life every hour.

This year, as many as 7,500 people will die from this type of cancer. The incidence of melanoma is rising faster than any other cancer in the world, doubling in just the past decade.

Get the facts:

Prevalence of skin cancer
Types of skin cancer
Risk factors
How to protect yourself

Prevalence of skin cancer

More than half of all new cancers are skin cancer. There are more new cases of skin cancer each year than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon.

Malignant melanoma -- the type that took the life of Leslie Ballard, in whose honor the fund is named -- is the fastest-growing cancer today. Among women 24-29 years of age, it is the most common cancer, and the second-most common for women ages 34-39.

Melanoma knows no age or race boundaries. Men are just as likely to suffer from melanoma as women, but are more likely to die from the disease due to late detection.

Types of skin cancer

There are three main types of skin cancer:

• Basal cell carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma

Basal and squamous cell carcinoma are rarely life-threatening.

Found early, melanoma has a high cure rate. Unfortunately, it is often undetected until into an advanced stage. In fact, melanoma accounts for as many as 80 percent of all skin cancer deaths.

Risk factors

Fair-skinned individuals are more susceptible to melanoma; the incidence of melanoma among Caucasians has tripled since 1980.

But there are many other risk factors as well, including age, sun exposure, moles, a suppressed immune system and family history.

How to protect yourself

The American Cancer Society says the best strategy to prevent skin cancer is to limit exposure to ultraviolet rays. Here's how:

• Limit direct sun exposure during midday. UV rays are most intense in the middle of the day, usually between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you're unsure about the sun's intensity, take the shadow test: If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun's rays are the strongest.
• UV rays can pass through water, so don't assume you're safe if you're in the water and feeling cool. Be especially careful on the beach and in the snow, because both reflect sunlight, increasing the amount of UV radiation you receive.
• Cover up. Wear clothing that covers your skin as much as possible. Dark colors are better than light colors. For your head, a hat with at least a 2- to 3-inch brim is ideal.
• Use sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of 15 or higher.
• Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps. Many people believe that the UV rays of tanning beds are harmless. That is false.

Sources: American Cancer Society; American Academy of Dematology