Content sourced fromhttp://www.generationsunsmart.com.au/

YEAR 9 PE THEORY

TERM 1

Skin Cancer In Australia

Australia has amongst the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. It is the

most common type of cancer in Australia and affects people of all ages.

2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70, and

almost 780,000 skin cancers are treated each year.

Queensland has the highest and Western Australia the second highest rates

of skin cancer.

Melanoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in young Australians.

Unfortunately, over 2000 Australians lose their lives to skin cancer each

year.

There are three main types of skin cancer:

Basal cell carcinomas are the most common form of skincancer.• Account for about two-thirds of all skin cancers.

• Grow slowly over months or years.

• Usually found on sun exposed sites, such as the upper body, headand neck area.

Look for:• Small, round or flattened spots that are red, pale or pearly in color.

• Some are scaly like a patch of eczema or may look like an ulcer orsore that doesn’t heal.

Squamous Cell carcinomas account for about one third of all skincancers and grow over months.

•Danger areas include parts of the body frequently exposed to the sun,including the lips, ears and balding scalp.

•Generally develop in sun damaged skinLook for:

• Scaly red areas that may bleed easily

• Ulcers or non healing sores that are often painful may developfrom solar keratosis

• Hard, red, scaly spots on sun exposed skin

• Solar keratosis (also called sun spots) are not a form of skincancer but indicate sun damage.

Melanoma accounts for less than 2% of all skin cancers but is the most dangerous and aggressive type of skin cancer.

Can grow anywhere on the body – not just areas exposed to the sun.

Occurs most frequently on the upper back in males and the lower leg in females.

Can start in normal looking skin, or in a freckle or a mole.

Is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia.The term ‘non-melanoma skin cancer’ refers to both basal and squamous cell carcinoma, although their appearance and treatment are quite different.

Over 2000 Australians die from skin cancer each year and almost 780,000 skin cancers are diagnosed each year.

Click to play ‘IS IT SKIN CANCER?’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2isvKj6n7w4 bonus video, time permitting

Click for video ‘Different Types Of Skin Cancer’

The sun and your skinUltraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun causes skin cancer, eye damage and premature ageing. Skin does not have to burn for skin damage to occur.

How has your skin aged?This activity will demonstrate how sun exposure can contribute to ageing of your skin.1.Put your arm out in front of you, with your palm facing down.2.Look at and feel the skin on the top of your arm.3.Turn your arm over, look at and feel the skin on the underside of your arm.Can you see or feel a difference?The skin on the top of your arm is likely to have received much more sun exposure than the skin on the underside of your arm.The skin on the underside may be softer and have more even tone. The skin on the top of your arm may be frecklier, rougher and uneven in colour.The more time you have spent in the sun over the years, the greater a difference in skin texture, tone and condition you will see and feel.

Types of Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation

UVA – causes skin cancer and ageing

UVB – causes skin cancer and burning

UVC – doesn’t reach the ground. It is absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere.

UV radiation cannot be seen by the eye or felt on the skin. When we feel the heat of the sun we are feeling the infrared rays, not the UV radiation. UV radiation is NOT the same as heat – this is why you can get sunburnt on cool days.

Click picture for video about UVA & UVB rays

The UV Index

Many weather forecasts include information about the UV Index. The UV

Index is an international scale for reporting the strength of UV radiation

from the sun. The higher the UV Index, the quicker your skin can be

damaged by the sun. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends

the following sun protection strategies as the UV level rises.

The UV Index Forecast

In Australia, the UV Index is forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). In

partnership with SunSmart, this information is used in some newspaper, radio and

television weather reports. The World Health Organization and Cancer Council

Australia recommend that sun protection is used when the UV Index is 3 or above.

Within a newspaper weather report you may see the following diagram related to

the UV Index. The UV Alert shows how the strength of UV radiation changes

throughout the day. It indicates the time sun protection is required, that is when the

UV Index is 3 and above. The UV level increases to a daily maximum around solar

noon and then decreases again in the afternoon.

http://www.myuv.com.au/(UV readings in Australia)

Click picture for video about Seasonal Changes in UV Radiation Levels

Some other interesting facts about UV radiation:

•UV radiation can be reflected by light coloured surfaces such as sand, water and concrete, so be aware that these surfaces may increase the amount of UV reaching your skin.

•UV radiation can penetrate water by more than 50 cm.

Find out how much you already know about UV radiation.

Here is a list of factors which may or may not affect UV radiation levels. Select true if you think the factor can affect the level of UV radiation and false if you think it cannot.

UV Radiation

The Sun And Your Health

It is important to remember that we need some sunlight to keep us healthy.

•Vitamin D is essential for absorbing calcium and maintaining healthy bones. It is made through the action of UVB on the skin.

•Exposure to the sun provides most of the body’s vitamin D, so avoiding the sun completely can lead to a lack of this important vitamin.

•Total sun avoidance is not recommended, but sensible sun protection does not put people at risk of vitamin D deficiency.

•Experts believe that enough vitamin D can be made in summer by exposing the face, arms and hands to as little as 5 minutes of sunlight in the early morning or late afternoon.

•Most people will achieve this amount of sun exposure during normal daily activities without needing to deliberately expose themselves to the sun.

•People at risk of vitamin D deficiency include the elderly, babies of vitamin D deficient mothers, people who are housebound or are in institutional care, night shirt workers, indoor workers and dark skinned people, particularly those who cover their skin for religious or cultural reasons. These people should discuss their vitamin D status with their medical practitioner.

Risk Factors

Everyone is at risk of skin cancer, but people who burn easily are at greatest risk. Fair skinned people are most at risk as they do not have enough melanin (colouring/pigment) in their skin to protect them from the harmful effects of everyday exposure to sunlight.

You have a greater risk of developing skin cancer if you have:•Fair skin that burns easily and does not tan•Blue or green eyes and/or fair or red hair•Suffered sunburn in the past•Spent your childhood in Australia•A large number of freckles, moles or sunspots•A family or personal history of skin cancer•Used a solarium (also sometimes called a sunbed or sunlamp)•Worked or spent a lot of leisure time in the sunNaturally dark skin provides some protection from the harmful effects of the sun. Indigenous Australians with dark skin have more natural protection from the sun than fair skinned people. However, people with olive or tanned skin are also at risk of developing skin cancer.

More Risk Factors

Research has shown that sun exposure in childhood is an important risk factor in the development of skin cancer. People who migrate to Australia after childhood have a much lower risk of developing skin cancer than those who spend their early childhood here.There is a strong association between exposure to UV radiation and the number of moles a person has. Sun exposure, in combination with our genes, determines the number of moles a person will develop. People with a lot of moles are 10 to 20 times more likely to get a melanoma than people with very few moles.

Moles develop at a very young age and usually stop appearing when people reach their early twenties. Australian children are more likely than those from other countries to have moles because they are exposed to more sunlight. As a result, Australian children have a higher risk of developing melanoma.

Area of back showing numerous moles

How high is your risk?

The more time you spend outdoors, the greater your chance of developing skin cancer. Many factors can increase your chance of developing skin cancer.

Read the following questions, each ‘yes’ answer indicates a higher risk for you.

•Do you have a blood family relative who has had skin cancer?•Do you spend a lot of time in the sun?•Have you spent most of your childhood in Australia?•Do you have dozens of moles on your skin?•Have you had a blistering sunburn?•Do you never use sun protection (e.g. wear hats, sunscreen etc)?•Do you deliberately seek a tan?•Do you have fair skin that burns easily and does not tan?

SLIP on Sun Protective Clothing

Some clothing provides better protection from the sun’s rays than others. Shirts with collars

and longer sleeves provide good coverage for the neck and shoulders. Additionally, tightly

woven fabrics block out much more UV than loose weave fabrics.

Choose clothing which covers the most skin, blocks out light and is comfortable to wear.

Avoid singlets or tank tops and flimsy fabrics. Clothes that provide the best protection

against UV radiation are:

•Long sleeved shirts with a collar or high neckline to protect the back of the neck and arms.•Long trousers or skirts or, at the very least, long shorts to the knee.•Garments made of closely woven fabric, which will not allow light to pass through.•Loose fitting clothing that does not restrict movement and allows air to circulate.•Clothing made of natural fibres, such as cotton, which will allow sweat to evaporate better than artificial fibres.•A garment in a dark colour will block more UV radiation than the same garment in a light colour.•Specially designed UV radiation blocking fabrics such as lycra.

SLOP On Sunscreen

Sunscreen should never be used as the first or only form of sun protection. It

should always be used with other sun protection measures. Sunscreen will

reduce sunburn, but it should not be used as a means to extend the amount of

time spent in the sun or as a substitute for protecting skin with shade, clothing

and hats.

Choose sunscreen that is SPF30 or higher, broad spectrum (blocking both UVA

and UVB rays) and water resistant.

For sunscreen to be effective it must be properly applied.

•Apply the sunscreen 15-20 minutes before going out in the sun so that the sunscreen has time to adhere to the skin and provide a very high amount of protection.

•Apply sunscreen to clean, dry skin.

•Apply sunscreen generously to the skin (adopt the ‘more is better’ approach). An average sized adult should apply 1 teaspoon of sunscreen to each arm, leg, front of body and back of body, and ½ teaspoon to the face (including the ears and neck). That’s a total of at least 6½ teaspoons for the whole body.

•For maximum protection layer sunscreen on, do not rub it in. Click here to play a video for a demonstration.

•Re-apply sunscreen every 2 hours or more frequently if removed by water, towel drying or perspiration. Wear sunscreen under make-up, moisturiser or insect repellent.

•Remember your lips (a common skin cancer site). A zinc or lip balm will provide longer lasting protection than a cream.

The shelf life of sunscreen is about 2 years – check the expiry date. It will expire more quickly if left in direct sunlight or places with excessive heat, such as the car glove box.

Remember to always:

SLAP On A Sun Smart Hat

The purpose of a hat is to protect the face, ears, top of the head and back of the neck

from UV radiation, as these are common sites of skin damage and skin cancer.

The purpose of a hat is to protect the face, ears, top of the head and back of the neck from UV radiation, as these are common sites of skin damage and skin cancer.

Wearing a broad brimmed hat with a minimum brim of 7.5cm or a bucket hat with a minimum brim of 6cm can greatly reduce the amount of UV radiation that reaches the face.

The legionnaire style hat is also a good choice, which covers the top of the head, ears and neck, but may not be quite as protective for the cheeks and lower face.

The hat should be made of tightly woven fabrics and, to discourage turning up of the brim, there should be no side press studs, clips or velcro. Even when you are wearing a hat, some UV radiation will be reflected on to your face from the surrounding environment, so it is a good idea to use a sunscreen for added protection.

Baseball caps and visors do not offer adequate protection from harmful UV rays and therefore are not recommended for sun protection by Cancer Council.

When UV levels are 3 or higher, sun protection is required. Shade is an important part of good sun protection. Shade can be provided by a shade sail, tree, pergola, undercover area or umbrella.

When the UV Index is 3 or above, and especially when the UV is above 8, seek shade.

Remember that other sun protection measures (clothing, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen) should also be used to avoid reflected UV radiation.

SEEK Shade

Eyes, like skin, are susceptible to damage from exposure to UV radiation. Short-term exposure can cause mild irritations, such as excessive blinking, swelling or difficulty looking at strong lights. It can also cause acute photo keratopathy which is essentially sunburn of the cornea. This is also known as snow blindness.

Long-term exposure can result in more serious damage to the eyes including pterygiums (an overgrowth of the conjunctiva onto the cornea), cataracts (cloudiness of the lens) and skin cancer of the eyelids and around the eyes.

All sunglasses for adults and children for sale in Australia must comply with the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1067:2003. Close-fitting wrap-around sunglasses with an Eye Protection Factor (EPF) of 10 provide the best protection. EPF numbers range from 1 to 10, with 10 offering the best protection. Be wary of sunglasses sold as toys as these may not meet Australian standards.

Wearing an appropriate hat and staying in the shade will halve the UV exposure to the eyes. For children, this gives adequate protection for the amount of time usually spent outdoors at school. In settings where glare and reflection are high, such as by water and beach sand, it is recommended that children wear sunglasses as well as a hat and other sun protection

SLIDE On Sunglasses

Cataracts

Pterygiums

Click for video ‘Why Do We Have To Wear Sun Screen?’

Sun Protection Myths

The myth:A tan provides protection from the sun.

FALSE!A tan is a sign of skin damage.

A natural tan offers very limited protection against further skin damage – usually an average of SPF 2-4, depending on individual skin type.

For most people, to achieve that small amount of ‘natural’ protection means damaging their skin.

Myth 1: Tanning

Myth 2: Solariums

The myth:Solariums/sunbeds are a safe way to tan.

FALSE!Exposure to ultraviolet radiation through the use of sunbeds, or solariums, significantly increases the risk of developing melanoma. Solariums emit UV radiation levels up to six times higher than the midday summer sun. Solariums are not a safe alternative to the sun. There is no safe way to tan.

Solariums are banned in every state and territory in Australia due to their damaging effects.

Sun Protection Myths

Myth 3: Windburn

The myth:Reddening of the skin on a cool, cloudy day is windburn not sunburn.

FALSE!There is no such thing as ‘windburn’, it is actually sunburn. The wind may dry the skin but it does not burn it.

UV radiation is not related to temperature and can reflect or bounce off surfaces. This means it is possible to get sunburnt on a cool day, in shaded areas and when the sky is cloudy. UV radiation can be reflected off surfaces such as sand, concrete, grass, water and snow, as well as scattered by clouds.

Sun Protection Myths

Myth 4: Sunscreen

The myth:Sunscreen is toxic and may actually increase skin cancer rates.

FALSE!There is no evidence of any harmful long term effects associated with the use of Australian sunscreen.

The chemicals used in sunscreen available in Australia have been tested and approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration as being safe and effective.

Research shows that problems can arise if people rely on sunscreen to prolong their time in the sun. If used correctly, broad-spectrum sunscreen can lower skin cancer rates.

Other sun protection measures should also be taken. Sunscreen should be used on skin that can not be covered by clothing, as appropriate clothing provides better protection.

Sun Protection Myths

Myth 5: Skin cancer and age

The myth:Only elderly people get skin cancer and it is easy to treat.

FALSE!Skin cancer can develop at any age.Melanoma is the most common type of cancer in young Australians aged 15–29, making up more than 25% of all cancer cases in this age group

Treatment for some skin cancers can be extensive, painful and result in permanent scarring and absence from work. Melanoma is one of the least common skin cancers. However, it is one of the most serious types because it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body, especially if not detected early. If melanoma is found early, treatment is often successful.

Melanomas do not always occur in parts of the body that are often exposed to the sun, they can grow anywhere. Check your skin regularly and consult your GP immediately if you notice any changes.

Contact Cancer Council on 13 11 20 if you have any concerns.

Sun Protection Myths