Reddening of the skin from exposure to the sun is a sign of damage by UV rays.
The statistics, from the charity Cancer Research UK, show that currently, about 5,700 people aged 65 and over are
diagnosed with melanoma compared with just 700 in the 1970s.
Compared with their parents' generation, older men in Great Britain are about 10 times more likely to get melanoma, and
older women are about five times more likely to develop the condition.
While age is the biggest risk factor for melanoma, the charity suggests the massive rise in numbers of UK seniors
developing the cancer is likely a result of the cheap all-inclusive "package holiday" boom that started in the 1960s -
coupled with the desire to get a good tan - even if it meant getting sunburnt.
Prof. Richard Marais, a skin cancer expert with Cancer Research UK, says:
"It's worrying to see melanoma rates increasing at such a fast pace, and across all age groups."
In the UK, malignant melanoma is the fifth most common cancer and the second most common in young adults. Every year,
13,300 people are diagnosed with it and 2,100 people die from the disease.
In the US, estimates suggest there will be more than 73,000 cases of invasive skin cancer in 2015, which accounts for
around 9,900 deaths each year.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops in melanocytes - the cells the produce melanin, the pigment that gives
skin its color. Melanin helps to protect the deep layers of the skin from the harmful effects of the sun.
Package holiday generation was less aware of the risks posed by overexposure to sun
Fast facts about melanoma
- When found in the early stages, melanoma is almost always curable
- Although melanoma accounts only for a small percentage of skin cancers, it causes the most skin cancer deaths
- While melanoma most often starts in the skin (including under the nails), it can also start in the eyes, mouth, genital and anal areas.
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays - such as from the sun, sunlamps and tanning beds - is a major risk factor for most
melanomas. The UV rays damage DNA in the skin cells. When the damage occurs to the part of DNA that controls cell growth,
there is a high risk that cancer will develop.
Reddening of the skin from exposure to the sun is a sign of damage by
UV rays. Even if you only burn once every 2 years, you can triple your
risk of developing malignant melanoma, say Cancer
Research UK.
Sue Deans, a 69-year-old retired teacher and grandmother, knows from personal experience how too much sun exposure can
lead to skin cancer.
Deans was first diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2000 when she
had a mole removed. Then, in 2007, she was re-diagnosed after she found a
lump under her armpit.
She says she was part of the generation where package holidays were so cheap you could afford to holiday in the
sun every year. There was less awareness then of the risks of getting skin cancer, and she often got sunburnt, she
adds.
Because her cancer was spotted early her surgery was successful and
she has been healthy since. However, Deans told Cancer Research UK she
remains vigilant and constantly checks for anything unusual, and:
"Now I make sure my grandson knows the dangers of getting caught out in the sun."
Sun damage accumulates over time
Dr. Julie Sharp, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, says many cases of malignant melanoma are preventable
if people take precautions in the sun and make sure they do not burn.
She says sun damage accumulates over time, so it is important to avoid sunburn and sunbeds. Also, get to know your skin
type so you do not overdo it on the beach - or even in the garden.
It is not just on holiday that you need to be careful - people can get burned just as easily at home, says Dr. Sharp,
who recommends you "remember to spend time in the shade, wear a T-shirt and a hat to protect your skin and regularly apply
sunscreen that is at least Factor 15 and has four stars," and adds:
"Swapping bad sun habits for good ones could save your life."
Regulators in the UK use a star system to rate the effectiveness of sunscreens. In the US, the American Cancer Society
recommends people use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) rating of 30 or higher.
Prof. Marais says it is also important for people to keep an eye on their skin and seek medical advice if they notice
any changes to moles, or even to normal areas of skin:
"Melanoma is often detected on men's backs and women's legs but can appear on any part of the body."
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