Stay sun-smart Posted Friday, April 8, 2005 by arjuna

Apr 4 2005

By Craig Thomson, The Evening Chronicle

A Newcastle University professor has revealed children are three times more likely than their grandparents to get skin cancer. Craig Thomson reports.

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As the weather warms up and thoughts turn to summer, many people are planning their holidays.


But research has revealed that many of us could be putting our lives at risk as we soak up the sun this year.

Prof Brian Diffey of Newcastle University says new figures show rates of melanoma are rising sharply in younger people and the statistics are set to double in the next 30 years.

More than 7,300 cases of malignant melanoma are diagnosed in the country every year, with 1,700 people dying from the disease.

Prof Diffey's work has shown that melanoma is now attacking younger people more often as each decade passes.

The sun protection specialist, who is now heading the SunSmart campaign to reduce the mortality rates, said: "Acting promptly can save lives and early detection and treatment will give many melanoma patients an excellent prognosis."

Signs to watch out for include a mole getting bigger, a mole with a ragged outline or one with a mixture of different colours.

If a mole gets inflamed or starts to bleed or itch, then people are advised always to go to their doctor and get it checked out.

More than 7,000 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with malignant melanoma.

It usually develops in cells in the outer layer of the skin but can spread to other parts of the body.

It is the second most common cause of cancer among young people aged 15 to 34 and early detection is crucial for successful treatment.

Latest research suggests sunburn in childhood can double the risk of melanoma in later life.

Dr Mark Birch-Machin, another skin cancer specialist from Newcastle University, says he would support guidelines to restrict young people's access to sun beds.

He said: "You get between 50% and 80% of your total lifetime's sun exposure before you are 21 years old.

"These young people who expose themselves to so much sun don't realise they are damaging their DNA and significantly increasing their chances of getting skin cancer."

This year's SunSmart campaign aims to target young people between the ages of 16 and 24, issuing warnings than sunburn can more than double their risk of skin cancer.

An web game has even been designed to highlight the important message.

All schools across the North East will be offered free posters, lesson plans and activity sheets based on SunSmart messages, while all health professionals in the region will be sent posters giving a guide to suspect moles and lesions - along with posters to help patients become sun-smart.

Prof Robert Souhami, executive director of policy and communications at Cancer Research UK, said: "It is important to persuade people, especially youngsters and those with fair skin, to avoid excess sun exposure and burning.

"We know that half of all cases of cancer can be prevented by making lifestyle changes.

"We are seeing more and more people giving up smoking to lessen their chances of getting a whole range of cancers.

"Reducing the risk of cancer is something most of us can do by following the SunSmart code."

Page 2: I will never go on a sun bed again

I will never go on a sun bed again

Emma Foggon knows better than most the dangers caused by too much exposure to the sun's harmful rays.

In the past 12 months, she has gone under the surgeon's knife twice after being diagnosed with skin cancer.

Emma, 29, from Wardley, Gateshead, said: "Being diagnosed was a total shock, I just couldn't believe it.

"I've got dark hair, dark eyes and I tan easily, so I thought I wouldn't be at risk."

Emma, an administrator at St Oswald's Hospice in Gosforth, was diagnosed by her GP after she got him to check out a patch of coloured skin on the back of her thigh.

After results from a biopsy proved she had the disease, surgeons at North Durham University Hospital removed the skin patch in November last year.

Emma added: "I used to be a sun worshipper and use sun beds, but after my experience of skin cancer I will never go on a sun bed again.

"I think it is really important to highlight the dangers of skin cancer - and it is very important to be vigilant.

"If you think there is a problem, get it checked out."

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Look after your skin

The SunSmart code recommends you:

* Stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm;

* Make sure you never burn;

* Always cover up with a T-shirt, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses;

* Remember to take extra care with children;

* Use factor 15-plus sunscreen;

* Report any mole changes or unusual skin growths promptly to your GP.

Page 3: Pioneering therapy

Pioneering therapy

A team of North East scientists has pioneered technology that could open the doors to many revolutionary cancer treatments.

Staff at BioTransformations Ltd, a spin-off from Newcastle University, has developed a process called light-activated therapeutics.

The process involves taking cancer-targeting antibodies and cloaking them in a compound sensitive to light, rendering them harmless for entry into the body. The antibodies attach themselves to the cancerous growth and, when exposed to light, are activated to either directly kill the tumour or carry toxins to destroy the cancerous tissue.

The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences, the Government-funded body charged with nurturing the region's healthcare and life science economy, has provided funding and support to BioTransformations in preparing the technology for clinical trials.

Janette Thomas, centre project director, said: "This is the first development in the world to use light to direct the body's own immune response to a specific area."

The process could enter clinical trials within the next 12 to 18 months.