PEOPLE in the South West are being urged to enjoy the sun safely this summer, following striking new skin cancer figures released by Cancer Research UK today (Monday).
According to the charity, people over 65 in Great Britain are around seven times more likely to develop malignant melanoma compared to 40 years ago.*
The most recent figures show that on average around 5,700 pensioners are now diagnosed with melanoma each year compared with just 600 in the mid 1970s.**
While age is one of the biggest risk factors for melanoma, the huge increase in pensioners being diagnosed with the disease is likely to be linked to the cheap package holiday boom dating from the 1960s and the desirability of having a tanned appearance even at the expense of painful sunburn.
This trend continues with today’s generations risking their health in pursuit of a tan.
Every week in the South West 30 people are diagnosed with malignant melanoma*** and around five people die from the disease****. It is the fifth most common cancer overall in the UK and the second most common cancer in young adults (aged 15-34).
Cancer Research UK and NIVEA SUN are working in partnership to encourage people to enjoy the sun safely this summer. The partnership offers simple advice that people can follow to make sure they have a great summer while protecting their skin.
Helen Johnstone, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for the South West, said: “Many cases of malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, are preventable by taking precautions in the sun and making sure you don’t burn. That’s why we’ve joined forces with NIVEA SUN to raise vital awareness of how to enjoy the sun safely.
“Sun damage accumulates over time so avoiding sunburn – and sunbeds – is key as well as getting to know your skin type so you don’t overdo it on the beach or even in the garden.
“You can burn at home just as easily as you can on holiday, so remember to spend time in the shade, wear a T shirt and a hat to protect your skin and regularly apply sunscreen that is at least Factor 15 and has four or more stars. Swapping bad sun habits for good ones could save your life.”
Getting sunburnt just once every two years can triple your risk of developing malignant melanoma and even reddening of the skin is a sign of damage.
Cancer Research UK skin cancer expert, Professor Richard Marais, said: “It’s worrying to see melanoma rates increasing at such a fast pace, and across all age groups. It’s very important for people to take care of their skin in the sun. It’s also important for them to keep an eye on their skin and seek medical opinion if they see any changes to their moles, or even to normal areas of skin. Melanoma is often detected on men’s backs and women’s legs but can appear on any part of the body.”
Top Tips from Cancer Research UK and NIVEA SUN on protecting your skin this summer:
- Spend time in the shade if your shadow is shorter than you. If your shadow is shorter than you are, then the sun is strong. During the UK summer, the sun is at its strongest between 11am and 3pm.
- Wear a hat, t-shirt and sunglasses when the sun is strong. Wide brimmed hats or foreign legion style caps are best.
- Cancer Research UK recommends you use at least factor 15 sunscreen with a high star rating when the sun is strong. Apply sunscreen generously and regularly to make sure you get the level of protection on the bottle.
Pardeep Dhillon at NIVEA SUN said: “We’re incredibly proud to be supporting Cancer Research UK again this year. We all need a bit of sun to keep us healthy, but the important thing is to enjoy it responsibly and safely.”
* Older men in Great Britain are around 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with malignant melanoma than their parents’ generation while older women are around five times more likely to develop this disease.
Malignant Melanoma incidence rates in people aged 65 and over in Great Britain
| 1975-1977 | 2009-2011 | Percentage Change | |
| Male | 6.9 | 67.6 | 884 |
| Female | 8.5 | 45.7 | 436 |
| Persons | 7.9 | 55.2 | 603 |
To remove the effects of random variations in rates from year to year the percentage change in rates since the mid 1970s is based on European age-standardised incidence rates for 1975-1977 and 2009-2011.
** Data is for Great Britain with 608 cases per year in 1975-1977 and 5,749 cases per year in 2009-2011.
***Incidence:
*Based on annual average figure of around 1500 cases diagnosed in the South West Government Office Region), 2009-2011.
**These figures are for the South West Government Office Region), annual average 2009-2011.
Source: Data extracted from HSCIC Indicator Portal https://indicators.ic.nhs.uk/webview/ Accessed on 09/03/2015
****Mortality:
*Based on annual average figure of around 250 deaths in the South West Government Office Region, 2010-2012.
**These figures are for the South West Government Office Region), annual average 2010-2012.
Source: Data extracted from HSCIC Indicator Portal https://indicators.ic.nhs.uk/webview/ Accessed on 09/03/2015
More information regarding malignant melanoma available here: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/skin/
ANIMATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJxiECwduW0
About Cancer Research UK
- Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research.
- Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.
- Cancer Research UK receives no government funding for its life-saving research. Every step it makes towards beating cancer relies on every pound donated.
- Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates in the UK double in the last forty years.
- Today, 2 in 4 people survive cancer. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that 3 in 4 people will survive cancer within the next 20 years.
- Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
- Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.
For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visitwww.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.