14 May 2018
Sun Awareness Week
A Bristol nurse is encouraging people to protect themselves from
the sun by covering up, wearing sunscreen and protecting themselves
from skin cancer.
Sun Awareness Week runs from today (14 May 2018) until Sunday
(20 May 2018) and UH Bristol's Macmillan melanoma nurse Gemma Shaw,
is raising awareness of the signs to look out for and how to
protect yourself from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Gemma specialises in providing support to patients with
melanoma, a type of skin cancer that can spread to other organs in
the body.
She said: "If melanoma is recognised and treated early, it is
almost always curable, but if it isn't, the cancer can advance and
spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to
treat.
"Melanoma isn't always preventable, but avoiding getting
sunburned can reduce people's changes of developing it.
"There is a high risk of getting burnt whilst on holiday or
doing outdoor activities such as gardening, playing sports such as
cricket or sunbathing.
"It's important when you're outside in the sun to be really
careful, particularly if you have pale skin and many moles. You can
help protect yourself by using sunscreen and dressing sensibly in
the sun.
"Regularly checking your skin can help lead to an early
diagnosis and increase your chances of successful treatment.
"If you notice any changes to your moles please speak to your GP
who will refer you to a specialist clinic or hospital if they think
you have melanoma."
The most common sign of melanoma is the appearance of a new mole
or a change in an existing mole. This can occur anywhere on the
body, but the most commonly affected areas are the back in men and
the legs in women. Melanomas are uncommon in areas which are
protected from sun exposure, such as the buttocks and the
scalp.
In most cases, melanomas have an irregular shape and are more
than one colour. The mole may also be larger than normal and can
sometimes be itchy or bleed. Look out for a mole which changes
progressively in shape, size and/or colour.
An "ABCDE moles checklist" has been developed to help you tell
the difference between a normal mole and a melanoma. The checklist
and other useful information can be found on the NHS Choices
website at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/melanoma-skin-cancer/
CASE STUDY:
"If you're going to go out into the sun, please cover up, wear
sun screen, go into the shade and don't stay out in the sun too
long." That's the message from Philip McCauley who knows how
dangerous the sun's rays can be.
Philip, who lives in Bedminster, Bristol, is receiving
medication after a melanoma, a type of skin cancer, spread to his
brain.
The 64-year-old, who is married with two grown-up children,
said: "It makes you aware that you have to be careful. The
consequences can be devastating."
One day in July last year, Philip awoke and was feeling unwell.
He began slurring his speech and his wife was concerned he may be
having a stroke so she called for an ambulance.
"My wife told me that previous to this I had been behaving oddly
for a couple of months which suggested something was amiss. I had
been slurring my speech, talking nonsense and acting strangely and
out of character," he said.
"The day my wife called an ambulance I was taken into hospital,
I had some tests and a scan. They found a tumour on my brain which
was cancerous and the following month I had this removed.
"However, it was found that this tumour was only the secondary
cancer and more tests were needed to find the primary source.
"The tests found that I had cancer on the membrane between my
brain and skull which was the primary source.
"I was unable to have chemotherapy or radiotherapy and was
prescribed medication. I now take tablets every day which are
starving the cancerous cells of blood with the hope that the cells
will all die.
"I have a scan every three months and the most recent one
appeared to show that the cancerous cells are reducing and that
things are improving."
A melanoma is caused by skin cells that begin to develop
abnormally. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun is
thought to cause most melanomas.
"I'd urge people to be very careful of the sun. People think
it's nice to have a tan but the sun can be your enemy," added
Philip.
"Parents, please make sure your children are well covered with
sun block, and don't let them stay in the sun too long, and the
same goes for you. Anybody and everybody can get skin cancer -
don't let it be you or your children."
Philip McCauley
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