Skin cancer prevention messages important at local events this summer
CRUK’s recently published figures highlighting the doubling in
mortality rates for malignant melanoma amongst men are concerning1.
This national rise is of concern locally. In Wakefield District,
mortality rates in men have also risen over the last 20-years. Just as
concerning is the fact local incidence rates have trebled over the last 20
-years, in men (from 6.0 per 100,000 in 1990-92, to 15.0 per 100,000 in
2005-07) and women (from 5.2 per 100,000 in 1990-92 to 17.8 per 100,000 in
2005-07)2. A local cancer awareness survey conducted in February this year
also found that local people do not take the dangers of skin cancer
seriously enough3. This information highlights the need to continue to
promote sun-safe messages to our local population.
As this information was published, NHS Wakefield District held a
number of community events in our most socio-economically deprived areas
aimed at building community participation, promoting healthy choices,
particularly in relation to alcohol use, smoking, and healthy eating. Such
events are crucial in engaging communities and an important component in
reducing health inequalities within the district. The events were well
attended, the messages well communicated, and the feedback from local
communities excellent. The weather was also perfect. Less perfect were the
numbers of children and parents enjoying the event without adequate sun-
protection.
In response to this the PCT and Wakefield District Housing have since
purchased 10,000 sachets of factor 20 suncream, complete with sun-safe
messages, which will be distributed at community events throughout this
summer. Alongside this, a local health promotion campaign on how to avoid
the harmful effects of the sun is also being undertaken.
Public agencies have a responsibility to their local populations at
community events. Many of the young children at our events were well
educated about the public health messages around alcohol consumption,
healthy eating, and physical activity. However, these same children played
blissfully unaware that as adults they will be at higher risk of death
from melanoma if current trends continue.
Research suggests that a clampdown on the use of sunbeds in young
people should be the focus of reducing the public health burden of
melanoma in the UK4. This is undoubtedly correct given alarming figures
published in recent studies5. However, alongside this the promotion of sun
-safe messages at community events should be a priority for all local
agencies this summer. A simple and relatively low-cost action which,
combined with sunbed legislation and other public health measures, has the
potential to impact upon future population rates of malignant melanoma.
1 In Brief ‘ Men’s skin cancer deaths have doubled in 30 years’. BMJ
2010; 340: c2908.
2 Figures obtained via personal correspondence from the Northern and
Yorkshire Cancer Registry and Information Service. June 2010.
3 Quadrant Consultants. Cancer Awareness Measures Survey for
Wakefield District PCT, Draft Report, 10TH June 2010.
4 Reducing sunbed use in young people BMJ 2010;340:c990, doi:
10.1136/bmj.c990 (Published 18 March 2010).
5 Catherine S Thomson, Sarah Woolnough, Matthew Wickenden, Sara Hiom,
and Chris J Twelves. Sunbed use in children aged 11-17 in England: face to
face quota sampling surveys in the National Prevalence Study and Six
Cities Study. BMJ 2010;340:c877, doi: 10.1136/bmj.c877 (Published 18 March
2010).
Rapid Response:
Skin cancer prevention messages important at local events this summer
CRUK’s recently published figures highlighting the doubling in
mortality rates for malignant melanoma amongst men are concerning1.
This national rise is of concern locally. In Wakefield District,
mortality rates in men have also risen over the last 20-years. Just as
concerning is the fact local incidence rates have trebled over the last 20
-years, in men (from 6.0 per 100,000 in 1990-92, to 15.0 per 100,000 in
2005-07) and women (from 5.2 per 100,000 in 1990-92 to 17.8 per 100,000 in
2005-07)2. A local cancer awareness survey conducted in February this year
also found that local people do not take the dangers of skin cancer
seriously enough3. This information highlights the need to continue to
promote sun-safe messages to our local population.
As this information was published, NHS Wakefield District held a
number of community events in our most socio-economically deprived areas
aimed at building community participation, promoting healthy choices,
particularly in relation to alcohol use, smoking, and healthy eating. Such
events are crucial in engaging communities and an important component in
reducing health inequalities within the district. The events were well
attended, the messages well communicated, and the feedback from local
communities excellent. The weather was also perfect. Less perfect were the
numbers of children and parents enjoying the event without adequate sun-
protection.
In response to this the PCT and Wakefield District Housing have since
purchased 10,000 sachets of factor 20 suncream, complete with sun-safe
messages, which will be distributed at community events throughout this
summer. Alongside this, a local health promotion campaign on how to avoid
the harmful effects of the sun is also being undertaken.
Public agencies have a responsibility to their local populations at
community events. Many of the young children at our events were well
educated about the public health messages around alcohol consumption,
healthy eating, and physical activity. However, these same children played
blissfully unaware that as adults they will be at higher risk of death
from melanoma if current trends continue.
Research suggests that a clampdown on the use of sunbeds in young
people should be the focus of reducing the public health burden of
melanoma in the UK4. This is undoubtedly correct given alarming figures
published in recent studies5. However, alongside this the promotion of sun
-safe messages at community events should be a priority for all local
agencies this summer. A simple and relatively low-cost action which,
combined with sunbed legislation and other public health measures, has the
potential to impact upon future population rates of malignant melanoma.
1 In Brief ‘ Men’s skin cancer deaths have doubled in 30 years’. BMJ
2010; 340: c2908.
2 Figures obtained via personal correspondence from the Northern and
Yorkshire Cancer Registry and Information Service. June 2010.
3 Quadrant Consultants. Cancer Awareness Measures Survey for
Wakefield District PCT, Draft Report, 10TH June 2010.
4 Reducing sunbed use in young people BMJ 2010;340:c990, doi:
10.1136/bmj.c990 (Published 18 March 2010).
5 Catherine S Thomson, Sarah Woolnough, Matthew Wickenden, Sara Hiom,
and Chris J Twelves. Sunbed use in children aged 11-17 in England: face to
face quota sampling surveys in the National Prevalence Study and Six
Cities Study. BMJ 2010;340:c877, doi: 10.1136/bmj.c877 (Published 18 March
2010).
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests