The province recently announced that it will ban commercial tanning bed use by those under the age of 18 to reduce the chances of them developing skin cancer later in life.
“Unfortunately, cancer affects thousands of British Columbian families with one in three people expected to develop some form of cancer, such as skin cancer like melanoma, in their lifetime,” said Health Minister Michael de Jong.
“After a great deal of consideration of clinical evidence, commissioning a report to provide options and listening to what local governments had to say at the Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention last year, government has decided to restrict access to tanning beds for young people under the age of 18.”
Studies have shown that indoor tanning before the age of 35 raises the risk of melanoma by 75 per cent.
Melanoma is the most deadly type of skin cancer.
In Canada, the incidence rates of melanoma are rising every year. Overall, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada, and yet it is also one of the most preventable.
In 2012, the BC Cancer Agency estimates that 966 British Columbians will be diagnosed with melanoma and 150 will die of it. One in 69 females and one in 56 males is expected to develop melanoma during their lifetime.
One in 413 females and one in 284 males is expected to die of melanoma.
“As a stage four melanoma survivor, I am living proof of the dangers of tanning as a young person,” said Kathleen Barnard, founder of Save Your Skin Foundation. “I welcome today’s announcement to ban people under 18 from tanning beds as anything we can do to prevent skin cancer later in life is good news for the patients who go through treatment and the hundreds of families that are ripped apart by this potentially deadly disease.”
“This is another step forward in cancer prevention,” said Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon, CEO Barbara Kaminsky. “This decision to introduce this public policy is both evidence based and has the support of the majority of British Columbians.”
“Getting a tan might be a popular option among many young people, but research has shown that it can result in potentially deadly skin cancers later in life,” said Dr. Andy Coldman, B.C. Cancer Agency vice-president, population oncology.
“Restricting access to tanning beds for youth will help reduce the risk of these cancers later in life, and so I applaud the decision by the provincial government.”
The proposed regulation under the Public Health Act will ban the use of commercial indoor tanning beds by youth under the age of 18, unless they have a medical prescription. It is anticipated to take effect fall 2012.
The announcement follows the release of a report compiled by an Indoor Tanning Working Group that was put together at the request of the Health Minister in fall 2011 to provide recommendations and options.
The report is available online at: www.health.gov.bc.ca
