Skin cancer could triple, experts warn

Children could be three times more likely to develop deadly skin cancer than their grandparents, experts have warned.

Launching Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign, Professor Brian Diffey, from Newcastle General Hospital, predicted rates of malignant melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – could treble in the next 30 years, due to 'reckless sunbathing'.

Over 7,300 cases of malignant melanoma are diagnosed in the UK each year and more than 1,700 people die from the disease. The risk of developing melanoma, like most cancers, increases with age. However, a study led by Prof Diffey found that it is now being diagnosed in people of all ages.

The study found that people in their mid-thirties were now being diagnosed with melanoma at the same rate as people born in 1930, who didn't develop the disease until they reached their fifties. Prof Diffey warned that incidence rates would invariably double in the next 30 years, due to the amount of sun exposure people had had in the past. He said that early detection was vital in order to reduce mortality rates. He said: "It's essential that people monitor their moles and skin blemishes and report any changes in them. Acting promptly can save lives and early detection and treatment will give many melanoma patients an excellent prognosis."

Cancer Research UK dermatologist, Dr Catherine Harwood, said: "It's vitally important that melanoma is detected and treated early. The best advice we can give people is to keep an eye on moles and any unusual skin blemishes. If existing moles start to change they should always be checked by a doctor."

The charity says that the signs to look out for included: moles getting bigger, developing a ragged outline or developing a mixture of different shades of brown and black; bleeding; inflammation or itching. However, it stressed that any of these signs does not necessarily mean that melanoma will develop.

Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign will target 16-24 year-olds, warning that sunburn can double their risk of skin cancer.

Professor Robert Souhami, Executive Director of Policy and Communications at Cancer Research UK, says: "One of the important messages in Cancer Research UK's Reduce the Risk campaign, launched earlier this year, is to persuade people - especially youngsters and those with fair skins - to avoid excess sun exposure and burning."

Advice for staying safe in the sun includes: staying in the shade between 11am and 3pm; making sure you never burn; covering up with a T-shirt, wide-brimmed hat or sunglasses and using sunscreen with a factor of at least 15 – a higher factor is also recommended for children.

(KMcA/SP)