Skin cancer—potentially deadly—easy to prevent cancer in Canada

Who gets skin cancer? Are certain people more susceptible?

• Anyone repeatedly exposed to sun— who works or plays outside—is at risk. Blonde, red-headed and fair-skinned people are most susceptible.
• People with existing sun damage— freckles, moles and previous sun- burns—are at highest risk. The more sun damage, the greater the risk.
• Similar numbers of males and females are affected. Males most often develop skin cancer on the tops of their head, upper back and torso. Females also tend to develop it on their legs below the knee.
• Incidence rises among people in their twenties and peaks in their fifties.

 

Why should I worry about skin cancer? I can just get it scraped off, right?

• Skin cancer surgery is disfiguring and produces scars.
• Squamous cell carcinoma and mela- noma can spread—and melanoma can be deadly, which is why the standard follow-up period after melanoma is at least five years.

  Nobody dies from skin cancer, do they?
  

• Yes! Unfortunately squamous cell  carcinoma and melanoma can be lethal. The cure rate for late melanoma is only 40 per cent.
• Early diagnosis is hugely important. Skin cancer is utterly preventable.

 

Is it true that sunburn increases your chance of getting skin cancer, especially melanoma?

• Sunburn definitely leads to skin cancer. It directly damages the DNA of the skin and blood cells near the skin’s surface, which is passed on to newly-produced skin cells and accumulates with every sunburn or overexposure.
• UV overexposure also irradiates white blood cells and suppresses the body’s immunity. It takes two weeks for your immune system to recover after sunburn—that’s why cold sores often develop after sunburn. Dr. David McLean, head of cancer prevention programs,  BC Cancer Agency, answers your sun safety questions.
• There are three main types:  squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, coming from the cells in the outer layers of the skin that make skin protein; and mela- noma, from the pigment cells in the outer layer.
• Squamous and basal cell carcino- mas are more common and less serious; melanoma is less common and the most serious.
• Skin cancer rates have doubled since the 1970s; it is now the most fre- quently diagnosed cancer in Canada
• Incidence is rising, but mortality rates are falling, due to earlier  diagnosis.
• About 13,000 people will get skin cancer in British Columbia in 2007 and almost all cases will be  preventable. Skin cancer—potentially  deadly—easy to prevent

 

Preventing skin cancer: myth and reality:

Doesn’t a tan protect you from getting sunburn?

• No! A tan does little to protect against sunburn or skin cancer—tans and sun- burn are both the result of sun dam- age. Even a deep tan is only equivalent to an SPF 4 sunscreen, which is almost useless.
• Exposure to the sun causes premature aging of the skin.
• Tanning to prevent sunburn and skin cancer is like smoking to prevent lung cancer.

 

Does sunscreen really work?

• Yes, but use it to prevent sunburn, not to increase sun exposure time.
• Sunscreen has been proven to prevent squamous cell carcinoma and will likely reduce the risk of developing basal cell carcinoma or melanoma.
• Lipstick is an excellent sunscreen and can reduce the risk of lip cancer by seven times.

 

What skin protection factor (SPF) do you need to prevent sunburn?

• Use at least 30 SPF: the higher the better. If you’re light skinned, use 60 SPF to prevent sunburn. If you’re darker skinned, use 60 to prevent excessive darkening. Skin cancer: the most  frequently diagnosed cancer in Canada
•  Twenty years ago sunscreens had very low SPF—seven was good then. Now, they’re rated up to 60.
• For intense or reflected sun (skiing, climbing, working outside) use an opaque sunscreen such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

 

How much should I use and how often?

• If you apply it thinly, double the SPF factor: use at least a 30 to get the effect of a thin layer of 15. The best advice: apply it thickly or avoid the sun all together—cover up.
• Ideally, use half of an average-sized 110 ml. bottle or tube for one application.

 

Are waterproof sunscreens really water- proof or do you have to reapply them?

• Today’s sunscreens stick well to your skin. You shouldn’t have to reapply un- less you’re sweating profusely or doing vigorous activity in the water.
• Applying twice a day is enough. You don’t have to apply ahead of time; they work immediately.

They told me at the cosmetics counter I should replace my sunscreen every year because the active ingredients stop working. Isn’t this just a ploy to get me to buy more?

• The active ingredients are regulated and last for years. If you have leftover sunscreen from last summer, you probably weren’t using enough!

Are sunless tanning products a safe way to get a tan?

• As far as we know, sunless tanning products are safe. They colour the outermost layer of dead skin cells but do not penetrate to the skin cell layers underneath. But they don’t usually contain sunscreen. Face makeup, even if it contains sunscreen, doesn’t provide adequate sun protection.

 

Donate Now
to support cancer prevention programs