Question

Sue loved the outdoors. She would often lie with her friends in the sun to work on that "healthy" tan, even though she had red hair and fair skin that freckled. She would get sunburned every so often, but thought it was no big deal. She used tanning beds once in a while, mainly just before summer because she wanted to look better in a bathing suit. Sue swam frequently with her friends, and also gave summer swimming lessons in an outdoor pool. As she got older, parts of Sue's skin began to take on a somewhat leathery appearance, but she figured that that was part of the normal aging process. She went to the dermatologist regularly, and from time to time he would remove some pre-cancerous cells, but always said that they were nothing to worry about. When the dermatologist found malignant melanoma on her leg, Sue was shocked; she had never considered herself particularly at risk for skin cancer. She had no idea how it might change her life.

Sunlight is an important source of Vitamin D, and we need daily exposure to sunlight for mental health and other reasons. We constantly expose our skin — the largest organ of the human body — to sunlight, a source of UV radiation. UV radiation has cumulative effects, which means that each exposure to sunlight adds to previous exposure.

Conclusion

Why is this risk factor so often ignored?

What factors motivate or hinder the kinds of behavior changes necessary to minimize the risk of cancer?

What warning signs can people look for?

Answer 1

1.Eventhough there is elevated awareness of the dangers of UV radiation, people choose to ignore the dangers in the pursuit of what they believe to be of healthy tan. This is particularly an issue among young people who tend to ignore health risks in favour of enhancing their social status and popularity. One of the primary drivers for teen is tanning of skin.

2

• Avoid tanning in beds or sunlamps.
• Try to wear protective clothing when in sun.
• Pay attention to changes in moles or warts.
• Use sunscreen that has UVA

3 Suns ultraviolet light damages the fibres in the skin called elastin. Freckles ,moles or sunspots are warning signs that indicate that the the skin has too much exposure and maybe at a greater risk of developing skin cancer.