>> Skin Cancer

The UK Skin Cancer Working Party

The UK Skin Cancer Working Party is an important sub-committee of the BAD, co-ordinating much work about skin cancer.

For information about skin cancer, sun protection and cancer guidelines, click here

This section describes the work of this committee and contains its 'consensus statement' which summarises the views of most dermatologists about sun exposure and skin cancer.

• That visible sunburn must be avoided by individuals of all ages.
  
• That there is increasing evidence that excessive sun exposure and particularly sunburn when aged under 15 is a major risk factor for skin cancer in later life.  Protection of the skin of children and adolescents is therefore particularly important.
  
• That it is important to realise the cumulative nature of sun induced skin damage. This is of particular relevance to individuals now living in the UK who may have spent part of their lives in a tropical or sub-tropical environment.
  
• That sun exposure giving rise to sunburn and subsequent skin damage can take place in the UK. It is therefore essential to protect the skin of both adults and children in this country, particularly during periods of sunny weather during the Spring and early Summer.
  
• That individuals who develop skin cancer do not always have a history of deliberate sunbathing. Those who have an outdoor occupation and those who have an outdoor recreation, such as golfing, gardening, skiing or sailing, are also at risk and must learn to protect their skin.
  
• A 4 point approach to minimising sun induced skin damage in the summer is advised (see below). These are in descending order of importance.

  Spending time in the shade during midday sun (between 11 am and 3 pm).

  Seeking natural shade in the form of trees or other shelter.

  The use of clothing as a sunscreen including T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts and hats.

  The use of broad spectrum sun screen with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect against UVB and with additional UVA protection.
  

• That in at least 4 out of 5 cases, skin cancer is a preventable disease.

The UK Skin Cancer Working Party acts as a forum for the discussion of skin cancer prevention strategies throughout the UK. The group meets two to three times a year at the British Association of Dermatologists.

The group continues to grow and is currently made up of representatives from the:

British Association of Dermatologists
British Photodermatology Group
Department of Health
Health and Safety Executive
Cancer Research UK
Primary Care Dermatological Society
Health Protection Agency
Faculty of Public Health Medicine
Northern Irish Goverment
Welsh Assembly
Scottish Goverment
Melanoma Study Group & NCRI
Network Skin Cancer Leads
British Association of Plastic Surgeons
British Dermatological Nursing Group
British Society for Dematologial Surgery
Skin Care Campaign

For further information on skin cancer campaigns and resources, refer to:

British Association of Dermatologists
4 Fitzroy Square
London W1T 5HQ

Tel 020 7391 6355
Fax 020 7391 6099
Web www.bad.org.uk/public/cancer/

Cancer Research UK
P.O. Box 123
Lincoln's Inn Fields
London WC2A 3PX

Tel (Supporter Services) 020 7121 6699
Tel (Switchboard) 020 7242 0200
Fax 020 7269 3100
Web: www.cancerresearchuk.org/

Marie Curie Cancer Care
89 Albert Embankment
London
SE1 7TP

Tel: 020 7599 7777
Web: www.mariecurie.org.uk/

 Vitamin D and Cancer

The link between sun exposure and skin cancer is well proven. Recent newspaper articles have suggested that 'excessive' sun avoidance may lead to low levels of Vitamin D which could, in turn, lead to an increased risk of internal cancers such as cancer of the prostate.  To view the latest information please click here.