Skin cancer rates treble for package holiday generation

July 1, 2016

Getting sunburn once in two years trebles the risk of getting skin cancer
There were 10,600 new cases in 2014, compared with just 3,100 in 1994

Sophie Borland Health Editor For The Daily Mail

Published:
18:15 EST, 30 June 2016

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Updated:
23:14 EST, 30 June 2016

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The number of over-55s diagnosed with potentially fatal skin cancer each year has passed the 10,000 mark for the first time, experts warned yesterday.

They said the ‘sun, sea and sangria’ generation was reaping the consequences of the Seventies’ package holiday boom.

Getting sunburn just once every two years can treble the risk of developing malignant melanoma – the deadliest skin cancer, Cancer Research UK said.

Sharon Rice, 33, (left) died of skin cancer in 2008 but increasing numbers of people over 55 are developing skin cancer. Alison Lawlor (right) survived skin cancer, which she developed after undergoing ‘sunray therapy’

It revealed that the number of over-55s being diagnosed with the condition has trebled in 20 years, and it is the fastest growing cancer across all ages.

The over-55s have been hit particularly hard because they were the first to take advantage of cheap flights to the Mediterranean 40 years ago.

At the time, few had any idea that the UV rays that gave them a ‘healthy tan’ were causing irreparable damage.

Tumours can take 20 years or more to develop and many holidaymakers are paying the price for the hours spent in the sun abroad decades ago.

The latest statistics from Cancer Research UK reveal there were 15,400 new cases of malignant melanoma in 2014 – more than double the number 20 years previously.

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Skin cancer (pictured) can take 20 years or more to develop and many holidaymakers are paying the price for overdoing the sunbathing decades ago

But among the over-55s, there were 10,600 new cases compared with 1994, when there were just 3,100 cases.

Figures also show that while 90 per cent of women survive for at least five years after being diagnosed, just 80 per cent of men do. The prognosis is worse for men because they tend to spot cancerous moles later than women, meaning their cancer will be more advanced by the time they see a specialist.

Nick Ormiston-Smith, the charity’s head of statistics, said: ‘Getting sunburnt doesn’t mean that you’ll definitely develop melanoma, but it does increase your chances. It’s worrying that malignant melanoma rates are continuing to rise and it’s very important that people take care of their skin in strong sun, even if they’ve been sunburnt in the past.’

Cancer Research UK said too many people were confused by conflicting public health messages that they need to protect themselves from sunlight, but also that they require a certain amount to get vitamin D.

Dr Julie Sharp, the charity’s head of health and patient information, said: ‘We all need some sun for vitamin D, but enjoying the sun safely and avoiding sunburn can reduce your risk of malignant melanoma.

‘The best way to protect skin when the sun is strong is to spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm, and to cover up with a T-shirt, hat and sunglasses.’

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence issued a warning this year that there was no such thing as a healthy tan. The health watchdog urged Britons to use suncream of at least factor 15 and apply at least eight teaspoons at a time ‘liberally and frequently’.