W Awareness #2 - Skin Cancer Action Week :: Australia



Who: Skin Cancer Action Week, Cancer Council Australia

Where: Sydney, NSW :: Australia

What: This November’s Skin Cancer Action Week (Nov 18-24 2012), Cancer Council Australia and the Australasian College of Dermatologists will urge all men aged 45 and over to watch their backs. Men in this age group are almost twice as likely to develop melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, than women the same age. Although melanoma can develop anywhere on the body, around 1 in 3 cases in men occur on the back. John Newcombe and Tony Roche will be joining forces with Cancer Council Australia during Skin Cancer Action Week to urge men aged 45 and over to watch their backs in two ways; always protect yourself in the sun and check your entire body for skin changes. Ask your partner or a mate to check your back and anywhere else you can’t see yourself.

When: Skin Cancer Action Week is held every year in November. In 2012, it will be held on the 18-24 November.

Why: Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world and two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they are 70. Skin Cancer Action Week brings awareness to the high incidence of skin cancer in Australia and promotes ways we can protect our skin from the damages of the sun and reduce the incidence of skin cancer in Australia.

To protect your skin, we recommend a combination of sun protection measures:

    Slip on some sun-protective clothing – that covers as much skin as possible.
    Slop on broad spectrum, water resistant SPF30+ sunscreen. Put it on 20 minutes before you go outdoors and every two hours afterwards. Sunscreen should never be used to extend the time you spend in the sun.
    Slap on a hat – that protects your face, head, neck and ears.
    Seek shade.
    Slide on some sunglasses – make sure they meet Australian Standards.

Extra care should be taken between 10am and 3pm when UV levels reach their peak.

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