Category Archives: Sun & UV

Headlines about morning sunbathing are misleading

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Sunburn

Sunburn is a sign of DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer

Earlier this week, new research was published about the effects of the body’s daily rhythms – known as the ‘circadian clock’ – on how skin responds to damage caused by UV exposure.

It’s an interesting piece of research, carried out in mice, but it by no means justifies the headlines it generated, some of which suggest that the findings are applicable to humans. This isn’t just incorrect, but could actually be harmful.

This isn’t to say that there’s no link between our body clocks and cancer. Our own researchers are investigating this, and are making big strides in this field.

But the way the new research, from a team in the US, has been communicated is concerning. Let’s have a look at what they actually found.

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Stick with shade, clothes and sunscreen to prevent skin cancer – not coffee

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A cup of coffee

Our verdict: a hat is a wiser choice

Today, a new study has led to headlines claiming that adding caffeine to sunscreen could improve its effectiveness in preventing skin cancer.

But don’t chuck away the sunscreen just yet, nor pour your coffee into it – this was an interesting study in mice, but it doesn’t prove that adding caffeine to sunscreen would have any effect on skin cancer.

Let’s look at what the researchers did, and what they found.

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Skin cancer, sunbeds, surgery and smoking in this month’s podcast

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Cancer Research UK podcast logo

Click on the image to listen to the latest podcast

This month we find out how the breast cancer drug tamoxifen could help prevent the disease in women at high risk, and look at the latest research linking alcohol to cancer. We also take a look at new statistics about survival from bowel cancer surgery, and find out why some hospitals may be doing better than others around the UK.

Plus, as new legislation comes into force in England and Wales banning under-18s from using sunbeds, new figures show more than two under-35s are diagnosed with malignant melanoma – the most dangerous form of skin cancer – every day. And we take an in-depth look at the Government’s new tobacco control plan, and discuss whether the proposed measures will really help to cut smoking rates.

Listen now through the audio player below:

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Or click here to download the podcast as an mp3.

Also, the podcast is available on iTunes to subscribe and download for free.

Alternatively, go to the podcast homepage, where you can hear the show directly through our own Flash player. And there’s also a full transcript of the podcast available here.

We hope you enjoy it – please do let us know what you think of the podcast in the comments below, or email us at podcast@cancer.org.uk.

Kat

Healthy resolutions 2011 – our interactive lifestyle tool

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New year’s resolutions: easy to make, hard to keep. Yours might even have fallen by the wayside already, or a few slips weakened your resolve.

But don’t give up – making healthy changes to your lifestyle is really worth it. Last year we wrote about the changes that can really cut the risk of developing cancer. And the messages we included back then are just as relevant today – keep a healthy weight, keep active and, if you smoke, try to quit.

If it all seems a bit much, our brand-new interactive lifestyle assessment can help you to take the first step. By answering a few short questions about your lifestyle, you’ll get a tailored report telling you where you’re doing well, as well as suggestions for changes you might benefit from. You’ll also get plenty of information and tips to help you make those changes.

Click on the image to launch the widget

Click on the image to launch the widget

Starting to live more healthily can be hard, but it makes a big difference. Up to half of all cancers could be prevented by changes to lifestyle, so healthy living can have a huge impact on the chance of developing cancer in the first place. But that’s not the only benefit – many healthy habits, like getting more active or giving up smoking, can also make you feel better in the short term.

And remember, it helps to get support when you’re planning a change. Family, friends, colleagues and your doctor, pharmacist or practice nurse can all be there to help and support you to make healthy choices.

So after all that festive excess, now is a good time to start afresh. So take our lifestyle assessment to find out how you’re doing and get ideas for a change, so you can make 2011 the year you gain a healthy habit or two.

And if you’re thinking of upping your exercise levels, Race for Life 2011 has just launched – visit the website and sign up today!

Jess

Find out more:

Check out our January podcast to hear our health expert Ed Yong discussing some of the big issues around lifestyle and cancer.

We need to build on three years of success in smokefree public places

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Smokefree advertisement

Smokefree legislation has made a significant impact on public health

England only joined the rest of the United Kingdom in having smokefree public places three years ago. But today, the idea of smoke-filled pubs seems like something from the Dark Ages.

MPs voted for the change because they wanted to protect workers from the dangers of second hand smoke. Before the legislation it was estimated that it was causing the deaths of 600 workers each year including over 50 in the hospitality industry. This is more than three times the numbers who die from industrial injuries.

There was no mass civil unrest in those remarkable weeks three summers ago,  and unlike the predictions of some, people stopped smoking inside pubs and restaurants almost instantly. Following the legislation, research found the average air quality of bars was comparable to ambient outside air.

Looking at our experience of the smokefree legislation three years on it is clear we have benefited greatly from it. At the time it seemed like a big step but very few of us would want to go back. We should make sure we continue to be bold in improving public health, as Jon Spiers, Head of Public Affairs at Cancer Research UK, explains in this short video:

And here are some more reasons why.

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Sunbeds and skin cancer – the evidence stacks up

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Sunbed

Sunbeds increase the risk of skin cancer

Sunbeds increase the risk of skin cancer – the evidence has been overwhelming for some time, and that’s why we supported the new law to protect children from them. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, part of the World Health Organisation), who provide gold-standard judgments on the state of the evidence about all sorts of things that could cause cancer, recently upgraded sunbeds to the highest risk category, to say that there’s ‘sufficient’ evidence they increase cancer risk.

Now, a new paper – one of the strongest so far – adds to this evidence and directly addresses some of the weaknesses of previous studies.

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To ‘Commit to Beat Cancer’, the Government must prevent more cancers

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We want the next government to prevent more cancers

Cancer Research UK’s ‘Commit to Beat Cancer’ campaign calls on parliamentary candidates to pledge to keep cancer high on the political agenda.

Over the last few weeks we’ve been exploring some of the issues behind these calls, looking at how Government could protect the UK’s research base, provide access to new treatments and tackle inequalities.

This week, Helen Haggart, policy researcher at Cancer Research UK, explains why all parties should commit to prevent more cancers.

As the old saying goes – prevention is better than cure.  This is as true for cancer as for other illnesses or health conditions.  The stark fact is that many thousands of cases of cancer in the UK could be avoided by individuals making healthy choices in their daily lives, such as stopping smoking, moderating alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy bodyweight and avoiding excessive sun exposure.

Cancer Research UK wants the next Government to increase awareness about these risk factors, and by the use of strategic interventions, encourage people to make better, healthier choices.

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