Antinuclear

Scary facts on Australians, UV radiation, and skin cancer

“Forgetting to cover up is simply scary when you think about the 115
South Australians who die from melanoma skin cancer every year.”

 but each time you burn, the UV
radiation causes damage to the DNA in your skin and as you get older
your body’s ability to kill those damaged cells is scaled back.”

Skin cancer message not getting through Health reporter Jordanna
Schriever Adelaide Now, The Advertiser January 09, 2013 SOUTH
Australians are being sloppy when it comes to avoiding sunburn.
SA Health latest figures to the end of November show 33 people were
treated in hospital for sunburn and 17 for sunstroke.

Of the total, 11 were children and, in all but one case, the children
were admitted because of sunburn.

Cancer Council SA chief executive Brenda Wilson said she was deeply
concerned by any sunburn-related hospital admissions because of the
avoidable, long-term health consequences.

“Serious sunburn can greatly contribute to a person’s risk of
developing skin cancer, especially in children when overexposure to UV
radiation is more likely to contribute to skin cancer in later life,”
she said.

In 2011, 49 South Australians were admitted to hospital for sunburn.

Prof Wilson said a recent Cancer Council survey found about a third of
South Australians were still getting sunburnt at least once during
summer and some as many as four or more times.

“This indicates that people are still spending time in the sun without
protection,” she said.

“Forgetting to cover up is simply scary when you think about the 115
South Australians who die from melanoma skin cancer every year.” Royal
Adelaide Hospital burns unit director John Greenwood said those
admitted to hospital because of blistering sunburn were usually in
incredible pain.

“These injuries can be devastating – they can keep you off work and in
hospital for weeks,” he said.

“People might shrug it off . . . but each time you burn, the UV
radiation causes damage to the DNA in your skin and as you get older
your body’s ability to kill those damaged cells is scaled back.”……
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/skin-cancer-message-not-getting-through/story-e6frea83-1226550731168

January 10, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, South Australia