You are most at risk for skin cancer if:

• You have skin type 1 or 2
• You had one or more blistering sunburns as a child
• You have a lot of moles on your skin
• You have a lot of freckles
• You have red or blonde hair
• You have light-coloured eyes
• You have fair skin and burn easy
• You have a family history of skin cancer

Did you know that…

• Skin cancer is a disease in which skin cells become abnormal and go out of control, growing and increasing in number.
  
  
• Ultraviolet radiation from the sun works in a variety of ways to cause skin cancer. Each time the skin becomes tanned or burned from the sun, damage is done to skin cells.
  
  
• Some of these damaged cells will die and some will repair themselves. Cells that cannot repair themselves will eventually become defective. Because UV radiation can lower the body’s immune system, these defective cells may not be destroyed and can therefore start to grow and produce a cancer tumour.
  
  
• It is estimated in 2010, that 1,200 Canadians will die from Skin Cancer (both Melanoma and Non-melanoma skin cancers)
  
  
• Also in 2010, 80,800 new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed. 75,500 of these skin cancers are non-melanoma.
  

• The reason skin cancer is so common are people’s behavior and our society which encourages people to have a healthy glow.

• Almost all skin cancers are preventable.
  
  
• Most skin cancers are curable if treated early.
  
  
• The most dangerous form of skin cancer is Melanoma. It usually starts to grow as a flat, irregular brown spot. After a few years, it will begin to grow more rapidly and will start to elevate. Once this happens, it has the ability to spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma is not painful, but about one third of cases can be persistently itchy. If found early it is curable, but can kill if it is detected late.
  
  
• In Leeds Grenville and Lanark, both the number of new cases and the number of deaths caused by skin cancer has climbed steadily over the past 30 years.
  
  
• Those who do use sunscreen often use it incorrectly. See Also: Understanding Sunscreens
  
  
• The amount of sun exposure is cumulative. That means the more time you spend in the sun, the more skin damage that is done and the greater your risk for developing skin cancer in the future.
  
  
• There is generally a lag time of 10-30 years for the clinical appearance of skin cancer to occur, therefore early prevention is extremely important.
  
  
• Skin cancer is most common in people with place skin, light coloured eyes and hair and who burn easily. However, people with darker skin, who tan easily and rarely burn, can still develop cancer if they don’t take measures to protect their skin.
  

Updated January 2011 See Canadian Cancer Society Website for the most up to date information/statistics.