Skin Cancer: UV Rays on the Rise

EXPOSED SKIN CAN C ER UV RAYS ON THE RISE According to the Cancer Research UK, skin cancer is generaly attrib- uted to exposure to the sun and its inescapable UV rays While a good number of cases nationwide are left unreported the number of skin cancer cases is nearing 100,000 annually. Exposure to the sun is part of everyone's daily routine, so the best way to kil the skin cancer culprit is to be informed and put prevention on top of one's check list, be it at home, at work or even when indulging in leisure. UVA UVB UVC Most UVB is blocked Harmful to all living Mostly penetrates the ozone layer. by the ozone layer things. but portions of it still reach the Earth. Composes percent of the UV 95% radlation that reachest earth 100-280 nanometre 280-315 wavelength nanometre wavelength 315-400 nanometre wavelength *Nanometre - one billionth (10-9) of a meter UVC IS COMPLETELY BLOCKED OUT BY THE OZONE LAYER THE PRONE ZONE: THE OZONE The ozone layer acts as the earths shleld against the detriments of the UV rays emitted by the sun, THE DISTRACTION OF THE OZONE DEPELETION THE OZONE HOLE Discovered over Antartica in the 1980s shown that large-scale losses of ozone occur each year, causing a rise in UV radiation on Earth's surface DAYS WITH EXTREME UV THROUGH THE OZONE LAYER 2004 2005 2006 1999 2000 2001 2002 2002 2007 2008 2009 2010 201 1997 1998 15 11 1996 18 41 34 15 1995 41 10 39 21 40 54 17 UVA UVA PENETRATES THE SKIN MORE DEEPLY THAN UVB, THE SKIN UVB UVB IS ABSORBED BY THE VISIBLE LAYER OF THE SKIN, , EPIDERMIS DERMIS SWEAT GLAND ARTERY VEIN FAT LAYER PROLONGED EXPOSURE UV RAYS TO SKIN CANCER melanoma basal cell carcinoma squamous cell carcinoma Affects body parts which is the most common type amounts tO 20% of the Skin are frequently exposed to the sun. Though it is a rare case, it is a very serious type of cancer that is likely to spread in other organs. of non-melanoma skin cancer cases. cancer which has 75% of the skin cancer cases ARE YOU AT RISK? let these numbers do the talking 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 INCIDENCE RATE PER 100,000 POPULATION • FEMALE • 10.4 INCIDENCE RATE PER 100,000 POPULATION • MALE • 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 UK 2010 CASES BY AGE RECORDED CASES MALEO FEMALEO UK 2013 REGISTRATIONS OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED 00-04 00 CASES AS OF- 05-09 0 19 MELANOMA SKIN CANCER CASES 10-14 39 |200 15-19 329 12,800 FEBRUARY 20-24 549 1219 25-29 1069 2059 2013 DEATHS 30-34 1479 2729 228 9 2,203 35-39 397 9 3479 5279 3669 549 9 429 9 5119 5210 535 7519 7039 7109 5749 7429 5559 6349 505 MALIGNANT MELANOMA OF SKIN 40-44 45-49 50-54 NON-MELANOMA SKIN CANCER CASES 5,440 55-59 100,000 60-64 all age group total 65-69 Q 5,681 DEATHS 70-74 546 75-79 all age group total 463 9 438 9 3839 488 9 80-84 85+ 40-79 9 55-79 9 MORE PRONE TO SKIN CANCER AGE GROUP BE AWARE OF THE SEASONAL RISKS DANGERS OF A DELIGHTFULLY CLOUDY SKY While basking under the sun on a cool cloudy remember that 80% of the UV rays day seems appeallng, still penetrate effortlessly on these clouds. MAGNITUDE OF THE ALTITUDE Every 1000 meters Increase in alti- tude raises the exposure to UV radiation by 10 to 12%. Be reminded of this risk on your hiking trips SNOW REFLECTION REACTION surprisingly, fresh snow acts as an efficlent and effective reflector of harmful UV rays as It amplifles the radiation by 80%. RIPPLE REFLECTION EFFECT Summer spells endless water activl- tles. Then again sea foam accounts for 25% of reflecting UV whlle dry beach sand ampl- fles UV reflection by 15%. • REMEMBER • SKIN CANCER PREVENTION STARTS WITH THE BEST SHADE PROTECTION brought to you by: sources: NATIONWIDE HOME INNOVATIONS http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer-of-the-skir/pages/introduction.aspx http://www.uvawareness.com/uv-Info/uv-information.php#what_is_uv http://www.skincancer.org/news/melanoma/jump-in-melanma-2012