We have all been told to wear sunscreen, cover up and skip the tanning bed to prevent cancer. I cannot stress enough how important it is to apply sunscreen, wear a hat and not forget those fabulous designer shades.
Skin cancer is the most preventable of all cancers and melanoma is one of the deadliest diseases (the second most common cancer in women between the ages of 20 and 29). Skin cancer is often a deadly disease and after being diagnosed with advanced melanoma, your life is measured in months. So it is very important to strike a balance between enjoying the great outdoors and cutting your risk factors.
Two steps to keep you happy and sun safe this summer: limit exposure to UV radiation and know your body. This means no tanning beds exposure and when you go outside (yes, you have probably heard it a million times already) wear sunscreen. If you have just five sunburns at any time in your life, it doubles your odds of developing skin cancer. Check your moles, especially if there is a change in colour or growing. Look for the ABCDs: asymmetry, an uneven border, two different colours and a diameter larger than a pencil eraser. Nobody knows your body like you do, so it’s up to you to take control of your skin and your life!
Some other helpful tips: when shopping for sunscreen, look for the ingredient Mexoryl. Mexoryl filters out UVA rays and lasts longer than current UVA blockers such as Zinc Oxide.
I bet you have also heard that dark colours attract the sun. Yes, they attract more heat than light hues, however, they actually offer greater UV protection because the rays can’t penetrate the fabrics as well.
Ivana Topic is a volunteer with Canadian Cancer Society in Quesnel.
