While many of us in North America are bundling up and preparing to meet the cold, snow and freezing temperatures of winter, our friends down under in Australia are heading into their warm summer season.
It’s no coincidence, then, that the Cancer Council of Australia chose this time of the year to kick off Skin Cancer Awareness Week, their annual event that has it joining forces with the Australasian College of Dermatologists to raise awareness about the dangers of unprotected UV exposure.
For the past 30 years, Australians have been encouraged to slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat. Thanks to the success of the government’s “Slip, Slap, Slop” campaign, the country’s non-melanoma skin cancer rates have fallen over the past decade for the first time for those under age 45. The Cancer Council is building on that promising trend by reminding people that unprotected UV exposure all adds up and that unintentional sun damage can accumulate.
The main message that the Cancer Council wants to get across is that incidental sun damage happens every day and that sun smarts should be a constant, not just for days at the beach or by the pool. The Cancer Council’s latest National Sun Survey, conducted over 2013-2014, revealed that of the adults surveyed who experienced sunburn, 21% were playing sports, 29% were at the beach, and a whopping 50% were participating in everyday activities such as gardening, reading outside, spending time in the park or picnicking and barbequing. It’s estimated that two out of three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer in their lives by age 70.
To prevent skin cancer, Australians are encouraged to incorporate “Slip, Slap, Slop” into their daily routines as well as seeking shade whenever possible and sliding on a pair of sunglasses that are labelled specifically to block out both UVB and UVA rays. By promoting sun safety year round, Australia has a good chance of finally relinquishing the dubious honor of being the skin cancer capital of the world.
