Skin-cancer risk even while skiing

Sunscreen is crucial on a winter holiday, and snow reflection has unique risks, says Rachel Borrill.

TEMPTED by a winter sun break or a week skiing in the mountains? With so many bargains, who wouldn’t want to escape the January blues? But the first thing to pack is sunscreen.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, with 8,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

The Irish Cancer Society says that even though it can be cold in the mountains, and isn’t peak season in the warmer climates, the sun is still harmful.

Marbeth Ferguson, a skin cancerprevention strategy co-ordinator at Cancer Focus, says the message is stay safe by using sunscreen.

“UV radiation from the sun can cause skin damage, even on cloudy days. Be careful of sand, water, and snow, which can reflect the sun’s rays. Also, the higher the altitude of ski resorts means increased intensity of UV radiation,” she says.

Snow, for example, reflects 85% of the rays off the ground, so skiers and snow-boarders can be burnt under the chin and the nose or on the ears.

This simple sunscreen message is supported by two legendary Hollywood actors. Late last year, Hugh Jackman revealed that he had skin cancer. His wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, 57, had noticed a growth on his nose and urged him to seek medical advice.

“Deb said to get the mark on my nose checked. Boy, she was right,” he said.

Jackson, who is from Australia, was diagnosed with basal-cell carcinoma, which usually appears as a red or pale lump. The slow-growing cancer is caused by long-term exposure to sunlight.

After posting a photograph online showing his nose heavily bandaged following the procedure, Jackman said:

“Please don’t be foolish, like me. Get yourself checked. And USE sunscreen.’

Former Welsh international footballer, turned Hollywood actor, Vinnie Jones, 48, has now also revealed that he has had three operations to remove cancerous growths on his face and head.

He initially noticed a lump under his right eye, last February, and sought medical advice, thinking it was a wart or a spot.

Instead, he was diagnosed with melanoma.

“Cancer is a horrible word to hear. I’ve faced the biggest and ugliest lads on the football field and been in some nasty brawls. But this is my toughest and scariest opponent yet,” he said.

“When the doctor said I had skin cancer, the first thing I thought was ‘How long have I got?’ A million and one things go through your head.”

Although the lump was removed, two more growths were discovered. Then, last September, Jones needed another operation, to remove a lump from the back of his head.

“They have cut three bits out, so far, and I am constantly worried now about where I could find it next,” he says.

“It is weighing very heavily on me all the time. It has really knocked me for six and made me reassess my life and goals. But I will fight this with everything I have got.”

Jones blames the skin cancer on his outdoor lifestyle, from working on building sites as a teenager to playing football as an adult and not using sunscreen.

“If you spot something on your skin that doesn’t feel right, like a spot or tick, then get it checked out immediately,” he said.

The Irish Cancer Society agrees, saying that skin cancers do not all look the same and can range from a small lump, and a flat, red spot, to an ulcer that won’t heal, to rough, scaly patches.

If skin cancer is detected early, the Irish Cancer Society says that 90% of cases are curable.

Nine out of ten cases of skin cancer in Ireland are caused by UV rays from the sun or sun-beds.

* www.cancer.ie National Cancer Helpline freephone 1800 200 700, open Monday-Thursday, from 9am to 7pm, and Friday, from 9am to 5pm.