Melanoma's Increasing Threat in Scotland

Melanoma, a fatal form of skin cancer, is affecting more and more young people in Scotland, with tripled rates since the 1970s, reports Cancer Research, UK. Scotland faces a higher incidence melanoma rate compared to the rest of the UK, where more than two people are diagnosed with the disease every day. From the seventies the rates of the cancer have increased nearly 266 per cent, from 2.2 per 100,000 to 8.2. About 1,090 people are diagnosed with malignant melanoma every year.

The dramatic increase is a result of cheap package holidays that were introduced 30 years ago and which made people yearn for the tanned skin effect that came along with sunny vacations. So, the use of tanning beds became popular, and today, people are facing the consequences.

 Cancer Research UK has introduced its SunSmart campaign for this year and is urging people not to get sunburnt and to avoid sunbeds.  Caroline Cerny, campaign manager, said: "It's very worrying to see that the number of young adults being diagnosed with this potentially fatal disease has risen so dramatically, especially since cancer is typically a disease that affects older people.”

Sara Hiom, director of health information at Cancer Research UK, said: "While some sunshine is good for us, going red and burning can be dangerous. The most important thing people can do to reduce their chances of developing skin cancer is to make sure they don't get red or burn.”



Source-Medindia