Antinuclear

UV radiation and potentially fatal lip cancer

In Australia there are an estimated 900 cases of lip cancer diagnosed
each year, with 20 deaths. This type of cancer is known to be more
common in men than women.

Be smart under the sun
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/lifestyle/a/-/article/16027587/be-smart-under-the-sun/
PETA RASDIEN, The West Australian January 30, 2013 A lifetime spent in
the sun – 42 years as a pool builder – came back to haunt Arnold
Vervenne. Now the 56-year-old is hoping his run-in with lip cancer
will serve as a timely warning for others. What started out three
years ago as a white dot on the inner edge of his bottom lip soon
developed into a large 16mm sore which doctors had to remove Two years
later though it returned, more aggressive than before. In the space of
about two months it grew 33mm, too large to be surgically removed
without reconstructive surgery.

Mr Vervenne then underwent radiotherapy, which appears to have
eradicated the cancer but left his lip scarred and sensitive.
But he is happy now not to have to drink through a straw and more
importantly that the cancer was caught in time, before it could
spread.

In Australia there are an estimated 900 cases of lip cancer diagnosed
each year, with 20 deaths. This type of cancer is known to be more
common in men than women.

Dentists have reported to the Cancer Council WA that they are seeing
an increase in the number of patients visiting clinics with
sun-damaged lips. “When you get these white specks or sores on your
lip, don’t think that they will go away . . . you need to go in and
have it looked at,” Mr Vervenne warned.

He said he knew of a number of pool builders with facial cancers. He
has now taken a supervisor position and spends less time in the sun,
but makes sure his workers use sun protection.

SunSmart manager Kerry O’Hare said it was just as important to protect
your lips as the rest of your face. Two key ways to do this were
applying sunscreen and wearing a broad-brimmed hat to shade the whole
face. “Outdoor workers are at increased risk of developing skin cancer
because they spend most of their working day in the sun, often in peak
UV times,” she said.

“If you multiply that across a week and across the years there is a
lot of exposure to UV radiation, which is a known carcinogen.”

She urged people to be aware of the time of the day and the strength
of the UV radiation and take that into account when applying sun
protection. The Cancer Council recommends people use protection when
the UV index is above 3.

January 31, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, health