Skin Cancer Cases Are Rising - We Need to be SunSmart

Happy Monday one and all!

It appears spring is here at last! I read some alarming news regarding skin cancer today so I just wanted to refresh everyones memory about protecting your skin as we (hopefully) approach the summer months.

This morning it was revealed that the number of skin cancer (basel cell carcinomas to be precise) are double what was previously thought. This means it is nearly as common as all other cancers put together and there are now believed to be more then 200,000 cases in the UK every year. This means cases of skin cancer have risen by around 80% in the last decade.

Although skin cancer is very treatable if found early enough, it is still a very dangerous form of cancer and I wanted to use today’s news to shine a light on skin cancer and the need to protect your skin by being sunsmart.

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. The number of people suffering from skin cancer is increasing. This could be because being tanned is seen as being beautiful and not having much sun in the UK has seen people running for the sunbeds.

What is skin cancer?

There are two main types of skin cancer:

* Malignant melanoma - the most serious type. Usually develops in the outer layer of your skin. Visible signs of melanoma include moles changing the way they look or feel. Malignant melanoma is one of the fastest rising cancers in the UK and have risen by more then four times since the 1970's. worryingly, we see more melanoma deaths then Australia, although they have more cases of the disease. Melanoma is a cancer that affects young adults. It is the second most common cancer seen in people aged between fifteen and thirty four. However, your risk of developing the disease increasing as you get older. Melanoma is more common in women then in men. Most commonly found on a woman's leg or a man's torso.

* Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is more common then melanoma and easier to treat. It is commonly found on areas of the body exposed to the sun frequently (head, neck, arms and hands) There are two types of NMSC and they both tend to affect older people.

BASAL CELL CANCER is more common. Slow to grow and usually begins as a small flattened lump. It can be red, pale or pearly and sometimes scaly, almost like eczema.

SQUAMOUS CALL CANCER is more serious and can spread if left untreated. It appears as persistent scaly spots, lumps or ulcers which bleed easily and are red in appearance.

Early Diagnosis Saves Lives

Being conscious of your skin and noticing any changes is key to diagnosing skin cancer and saving lives. Make sure you know where your moles are and monitor them regularly. If any changes in size, shape or colour occur then get to your GP as quickly as possible. Skin cancer is much easier to treat in it's early stages.

Risk Factors

Some people have a higher risk of developing skin cancer then others. These people will have one or more of the following factors:

* Fair skin that burns easily

* Lots of moles and/or freckles

* Frequent sunburn

* Red or fair hair

* Light coloured eyes

* A family history of skin cancer

* Personal history of skin cancer

How Can I Try To Prevent Skin Cancer?

There are things you can do to try and protect your skin. Wearing SP15+ suncream, covering up as best you can and finding shade during peak sun hours (12-4) all help look after your skin and protect it from harmful UV rays. Avoiding sunbeds is obviously a huge factor, you are 75% more likely to develop cancer if you use sunbeds even once before you turn thirty five. If you really do need a tan then I really do encourage you to use a fake tan spray rather then running to the sunbed; your skin and your health will thank you for 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.

One of my fellow Cancer Campaigns Ambassador, Justine, had skin cancer in the past and is very passionate about raising awareness of skin cancer and encouraging people to be sunsmart.

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!!!!

 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 follow Justine on Twitter, her username is @js5471

If you are worried about a mole or your skin, please do visit your GP as soon as you can.

xxxx