Skin Cancer Consultation Welcomed

A leading NI cancer charity has given a warm welcome to news that a strategy to reduce skin cancers has gone to the stage of public consultation.

Naomi Thompson, Melanoma Coordinator at the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) said: "The incidence of skin cancers continues to rise in Northern Ireland due to increased exposure to UV radiation from sunlight and sunbeds.

"As a result, we have identified skin cancer prevention and early diagnosis as key strategic areas for our work.

"Having reviewed the first strategy we are delighted that the Stormont Health Minister has pushed ahead with a new Strategy and Action Plan.

"The measures outlined will increase public knowledge, change behaviours and reduce the number of skin cancers in our local population," she said, yesterday.

The Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey launched his consultation on a strategy aimed at reducing skin cancer in Northern Ireland and said that the new 10 year strategy and action plan will focus primarily on the prevention and early detection of skin cancers.

He noted that, while the draft strategy has been developed to take account of the population as a whole, it pays particular attention to children and young people, and those who spend significant periods of time outdoors through work or leisure.

Michael McGimpsey said: "The incidence of skin cancer has been rising in recent years and it is now the most common form of cancer in Northern Ireland.

"What is shocking about this is that experts believe almost four fifths of these cases could be prevented if people adopted some simple precautions.

"Avoiding excess exposure to ultraviolet radiation - the principal source of which is the sun - is very important when it comes to limiting the risk of skin cancer.

"The popularity and increased use of sunbeds has also contributed to the recent rises in skin cancer here," he said.

During the period 2003 to 2007, an average of 2,750 new cases of skin cancer was diagnosed annually - around 233 of which were malignant melanomas, the most serious type of skin cancer. Figures show that in 2007 malignant melanoma alone caused 55 deaths in Northern Ireland and left hundreds of people requiring surgery to remove melanomas.

The Minister continued: "Skin cancer is a serious health issue, and action taken today will reap benefits for future generations.

"NI has a good record in terms of awareness raising about care in the sun, largely due to the excellent work carried out by the Northern Ireland Melanoma Strategy Implementation Group," he continued, but noted that progress made in this area must be taken further.

"I believe the new 10 year strategy steers us in the right direction for reducing preventable skin cancer.

"I want the message to be heard loud and clear by everyone that they should take care in the sun and avoid the use of sun beds in order to reduce their risk of skin cancer."

The consultation is available on the DHSSPS website at current_consultations and will last 12 weeks from 05 October 2010 to 24 December.

(BMcC/GK)