Happy
Friday everyone!
Today’s
post features another of my fantastic fellow CRUK Ambassadors. This time it’s
the very glamorous Olympic Torchbearer Justine Sheils. Justine is a skin cancer
survivor and she dedicated a lot of her spare time to educating people on the
dangers of skin cancer and encourages people to become “Sunsmart”. Justine is a
fabulous supporter for CRUK and is a previous winner of the “Ambassador of the
Year” award at the Flame of Hope awards.
Justine was
a sun worshiper for most of her life. She developed a sunbed habit when she was
about fifteen years old and she slowly became obsessed by having a tan. Like
many women, she felt better when she was brown. Eventually her habit caught up
with her and she was diagnosed with skin cancer.
Justine
worries that people are not properly aware of how dangerous and serious
malignant melanoma is. She says: “People’s perceptions of skin cancer are it’s
a spot and it can be removed, but it isn’t”
Justine has
a bump that resembled a wart. It would crust, pus and then dry up. It got
blacker as time went on. Justine didn’t think she would ever develop skin
cancer, that sort of thing happens to other people, not her. But it did. She
had to have cancer removed from her chest, then her back and then her head.
Justine
has, thankfully, made a full recovery and now lives a “sunsmart” lifestyle. She
bravely shares her story to discourage others from endangering themselves.
Using sunbeds before you’re thirty five will increase your chances of
developing malignant melanoma by 75%. This is a massive, shocking statistic
that I urge you to think of every time the sunbed calls you. There are
brilliant fake tans available now and if you really must be brown; fake it!!!!
Here are a
few tips for being “Sunsmart”:
Sunburn –
Sunburn is a sign that your genetic material (DNA) has been damaged by UV
radiation from the sun or sunbeds. Damaged DNA will cause your cells to start multiplying
out of control and this can lead to skin cancer. The painful symptoms you
suffer whilst sunburnt are your body’s attempts to repair the damage that has
been caused. Getting sunburnt one very two years can TRIPLE your risk of the
most serious type of skin cancer – melanoma. Peeling occurs when your body
tries to get rid of cells that have become so damaged that they have to be
destroyed. It is important to remember that you can still burn on cooler days
so it is vital to wear SPF as much as possible – especially on your face.
Sunscreens –
Cancer Research UK recommend using a sunscreen that has an SPF of at least
fifteen and that protects you against UVA rays. It is important to remember
that sunscreens expire after about 2-3 years so always check the expiry date!
For sunscreen to be effective you needed to do the following things:
*Apply to
clean and dry skin
*Apply
liberally – around two spoonsful are good if you are covering your heads arms and
neck but two tablespoons is good for covering your entire body whilst wearing a
swimming costume.
* Reapply
regularly, especially after swimming. Sunscreen can easily come off, especially
if you are sweating. Even waterproof sunscreen needs to be reapplied throughout
the day.
* Use
sunscreen along with clothes, a hat and try to sit in shade as often as
possible to avoid sunburn.
*Avoid
keeping sunscreen in hot places as heat can ruin the protective chemicals.
Covering
Up – You are more protected if you cover up more skin. Materials with a close
weave offer the best protection as they block out the most UV rays. However,
when clothes are wet, they stretch and allow more waves to get through. For
example, a wet cotton T-shirt may only offer you HALF the protection of a dry
one. Hats are an excellent way of protecting your face, your eyes and your
head. A wide brim one is the best kind. Sunglasses are good but they must have
a statement to say they offer 100% UV protection or a UV 400 label to offer you
proper protection. The wraparound style are the best (just ask my dad, he has
some!!)
Shade
– UV rays are strongest between 11am and 3pm. You need to be extra vigilant
about protecting yourself against the sun during this time. You can find shade
with lots of different things, for example, trees and foliage, umbrellas and
canopies.
Working
Outdoors – People who frequently work outdoors have about three to four times
more UV exposure then people working indoors. Your employers have a legal
obligation to protect your health and safey, including your exposure to UV rays
and your risk of skin cancer. This is due to the Health and Safety at Work Act
of 1974. To protect yourself, you should try and find some shade to work in
between 11 and three during the summer months and try and spend your break
times out of the sun. Wearing a protective had and sunglasses where possible
should be done and applying sunscreen is a must.
I
hope this information persuades you to give up the sun. We all know having a
tan is a confidence boost but faking it really should be your only option. Skin
cancer can be very aggressive and is does affect a lot of people. Please do
consider becoming “Sunsmart” it could save your life.
To find out more about “Sunsmart”
please visit http://www.sunsmart.org.uk/
To read my blog post about skin cancer and the dangers of tanning
please click http://pennysophia.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/lifestyle-choices-tanning.html
To follow Justine on Twitter, her username is @js5471
xxx
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