Specialist nurse will advise on how to be sun smart

A Skin Cancer Nurse Specialist, from the Skin Cancer Team at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, will be available in the main reception of Derriford Hospital on Wednesday 7 May between 10am and 2pm, for Sun Awareness Week (5-11 May).

Staff from the local Cancer Awareness and Screening Project will also be on hand to give advice and information on how to enjoy the sunshine without causing skin damage.

Jill Daniels, Skin Cancer Nurse Specialist, who will be manning the stand in the main concourse, said: “The number of patients developing skin cancer in the South West continues to rise. It is important to be aware of your own skin and to check for any changes regularly.

“We would encourage anyone with a concern to seek help and advice from their GP at the earliest opportunity. Most skin cancers are curable if detected early and the risk of someone being diagnosed with skin cancers is greatly reduced if they take care in the sun and follow the sun protection advice.”

There are two full time Macmillan Skin Cancer Nurse Specialists at Derriford Hospital and they support around 250 new patients diagnosed with melanoma every year. As well as support from the nurses, patients and their families can also find support from the Plymouth Melanoma Group. This group can be contacted through their face book page ‘Plymouth Melanoma Group’ or through the skin cancer nurse specialist.

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK and it is estimated that there are 100,000 new cases each year. Most skin cancers are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

What to look for:

Visit your GP if you notice a change in a mole. There is a simple checklist A,B,C,D and E.

A. Asymmetry – melanomas are likely to be irregular or asymmetrical. Ordinary moles are usually symmetrical.
B. Border – melanomas are more likely to have an irregular border with jagged edges. Moles usually have well defined edges.
C. Colour – melanomas tend to have more than one colour. They may have different shades like brown mixed with black, red, pink, white or a bluish tint. Moles are usually one shade of brown.
D. Diameter – melanomas are usually more than 7mm in diameter. Moles are normally no bigger than the blunt end of a pencil (about 6mm across).
E. Evolving – changing, look for changes in the size, shape or colour of a mole.

Take care in the sun:

• Do not spend long periods in the sun during the day. Make sure you spend time in the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm. Make sure you never burn.
• Cover up with clothing that has a tight weave and wear a wide brimmed hat.
• Sunscreen should be applied around 15 minutes before you go into the sun and reapplied every two hours and after swimming.
• Use a sunscreen of Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or above in accordance with your skin type. Make sure that it blocks both UVA and UVB radiation and look for the star rating **** or ***** on the label. Always ensure it is in date.
• Avoid the use of sunbeds.
• Make sure your children are dressed appropriately and that they are wearing a hat and a high protection factor sunscreen. Very young babies should be kept out of strong direct sunlight.
• Look for the CE or BS EN 1836:1997 mark on sunglasses as these offer the highest protection.