Young people are risking cancer for the sake of a tan
Melanoma, or skin cancer, has been dubbed the disease of the 21st century. In the 1930s, one in 1,500 people was diagnosed with it. Now it affects one in 50 in the UK. In New Zealand, the figure is nearer one in 25.
Melanoma is now the most common form of cancer in the UK among those aged 15 to 34, with 980 cases in 2006.
Rates of the most serious type of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, have more than doubled among young people in the past 20 years. In a bid to get this age group to protect their skin, this year's Cancer Research UK SunSmart campaign is using social networking sites.
The SunSmart campaign from Cancer Research UK hopes to raise awareness of the need to wear high-factor sunscreen and shade skin from the sun.
The campaign comes as a new survey of those aged 16 to 24 found 28 per cent believed there is competition among their peers over who has the best tan.
A total of 27 per cent said they would be unlikely to use sun protection this summer and 27 per cent said they would be more likely to apply sunscreen while alone, out of view of their friends.
A total of 23 per cent said getting a tan was one of their top priorities this summer and 29 per cent were more concerned about getting wrinkles than developing skin cancer. A total of 14 per cent said a "few scare stories about skin cancer" would not stop them sunbathing, and eight per cent said burning was a "key step" in achieving a bronzed look.
The findings have saddened, but not deterred sun awareness campaigner, Harry Townsend.
Harry has been raising awareness of the need to protect your skin since the death of his wife, Myfanwy, 10 years ago. He and his three sons decided to set up a charity in her name. Their campaign has been given the backing of Leeds United following the death of their physio, Bruce Craven, four years ago from melanoma.
Bruce died aged just 32 and the players donated 2,500 from their own pockets to produce the charity's lime-green wristbands, engraved "Melanoma Awareness www.melanoma-fund.co.uk" which have been sold widely. Their last home match of the season was designated Melanoma Day.
Additionally, local pharmaceutical giant Smith and Nephew nominated them as their Charity of the Year last September.
"People just don't think it will happen to them," says Harry, 73. "My wife was a nurse and it still happened to her. Parents and schools should try to get the message across."
As well as producing leaflets and now a DVD for schools,The Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research fund organises a annual Melanoma Awareness Week (June 13 to 21) which is now in its third year.
Meanwhile, Superdrug is continuing to lobby for sun protection to be reclassified as a health essential, meaning a cut in VAT on products to five per cent. Visit www.superdrug.com to sign the petition.
n For more information, visit www.melanoma-fund.co.uk
MALIGNANT MELANOMA
Malignant melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. It usually develops in cells in the outer layer of the skin. The first visible signs of this may be a change in a mole.
More than 10,400 cases are diagnosed in the UK every year.
Over 2,600 people die from skin cancer each year in the UK, and most of these cases are due to malignant melanoma.
More women than men develop malignant melanoma. Melanomas in women are most common on the legs and in men on the trunk.
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