Young 'take risks with skin cancer'

Getting a tan is fashionable - and dangerous

A huge rise in cases of a deadly form of skin cancer among young people has been highlighted by a campaign launched on Thursday.

Joan Gibson, whose 13-year-old son was recently diagnosed with malignant melanoma, spoke at the launch of the initiative devised by the Cancer Research Campaign (CRC).

Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It is linked to over-exposure to sunlight.

Mrs Gibson's son Daniel has been told he may require plastic surgery on his face.

She has already survived the disease, and both her parents died from the condition.

Latest figures show that between 1979 and 1993 the incidence of the disease in England and Wales increased by around 80% in males aged under 25 and by around 60% in women of the same age.

In 1993, a total of 150 under-25s developed malignant melanoma, of which 16 were aged 14 or under.

The CRC believes the risk in cases among the young is partly due to the fact that it is fashionable to sport a suntan.

Very worrying

Skin cancer can be treated using lasers

Professor Gordon McVie, director general of The Cancer Research Campaign said: "This sharp rise in the number of young people with the disease is very worrying.

"Three years ago a poll revealed that having a suntan is more important to today's kids than being thin. That's an attitude we're going to have to change if we're going to a make a difference."

Consultant dermatologist Dr John Ashworth, based at Manchester's Hope Hospital, said cases like Daniel's were all too common.

"I see lots of people with malignant melanoma and sadly every week now a new young person walks into my clinic needing treatment. It's heartbreaking."

Parents are especially advised to keep their babies out of the sun as they are most at risk and melanoma tends to be "incubated" for many years until surfacing in later life.

Mrs Gibson, 46, a hospital ward clerk, from Stockport, said she had done everything possible to ensure Daniel had not been over-exposed to the sun.

She said he would always wear sun screen, the family avoided holidays abroad and Daniel was always advised to stay out of the sun where possible.

"The problem is that school children often play games such as football out in the sun and their faces are often exposed.

"Creams should be made available by teachers and shady areas should be provided in school playgrounds."

Mrs Gibson said Daniel had had the cancerous mole on his face removed and was optimistic that he would make a full recovery.

But she added that he may require plastic surgery to remove additional tissue from his face.