North Down skin cancer rates 'double those in other areas'
Skin cancer rates in north Down are more than double those in other parts of the North, it was revealed today.
People in the affluent Gold Coast are more likely to seek foreign sun and enjoy an outdoor lifestyle with the coastline on their doorstep, health authorities said.
The number of cases of skin cancer in the North has trebled over the past 25 years.
The Public Health Agency (PHA) is warning of the need to use suncream and avoid sunbeds.
Chief executive Dr Eddie Rooney said: “Now we know having a tan is actually a sign that our skin is trying to protect itself from ultra-violet damage rather than a sign of being healthy.”
According to the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, in North Down 19 people per 100,000 developed skin cancer from 2003 to 2007. This compares to 18 per 100,000 in fellow seaside area Coleraine council and nine in Derry and Fermanagh. Women suffered more cases of the malignant melanoma.
The PHA said people were more affluent in North Down and more likely to take foreign breaks.
There are also more retired people who have spent more time in the sun, although the figures are calculated to take account of age.
Campaigners from South Down have also highlighted nuclear power plant Sellafield across the Irish Sea in Cumbria.
The agency said an increasing number of skin cancer cases had been reported among young people.
The main risk factor is over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation either as a result of natural sunlight or by using a sunbed.
Dr Rooney warned people to be aware of the symptoms and avoid sunbeds.
“Repeated exposure to UV damages the DNA in skin cells, which increases the risk of skin cancer and makes skin age faster,” he said.
“Today, the PHA wants to highlight the very serious risks of using sunbeds to young people, so they will realise that if they use sunbeds their looks will fade along with their tan.”
Dr Clifford McMillan, consultant dermatologist with Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, said dealing with skin cancer or potential skin cancer accounts for the major part of his work. Over the past 20 to 30 years, melanoma incidence has been doubling every decade.
“It is the most dangerous of the common skin cancers and affects down into a much younger age group. It is now one of the commonest cancers in young women, who also happen to be the group most likely to use sunbeds,” he said.
“While sunbed usage does not fully account for the increase in melanoma, it is a significant risk factor and one that could be and should be avoided.”
