Cancer Council Sun Smart Ambassador and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole is reminding people across the region to be sun safe and actively reduce their risk of developing skin cancer this National Skin Cancer Action Week.
After his own personal experience with skin cancer, Mr Toole knows all too well how incidental sun exposure can add up over time leading to potentially deadly consequences.
Mr Toole said skin cancer has been called Australia’s nation cancer with Aussie’s having the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.
“Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer during their lifetime but skin cancer is almost always preventable,” Mr Toole said.
“We all need to make sun protection a daily habit to protect our skin from UV exposure.”
“No one wants to hear the news they have a skin cancer, no matter the degree of seriousness. I wish what I had known now as a young bloke – wear a hat and put your sunscreen on, you will thank yourself for years to come.”
This year golf clubs across the nation have teamed up with the Cancer Council to encourage sun safety by golfers after research revealed that golfers in Australia are almost 2.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer than the general population.
Bathurst Golf Club General Manger Brad Constable said the club has come on board with the important safety message.
“We love our outdoors and our golf, but not at the cost of our health,” Mr Constable said.
“We’ve had many members of the club touched by varying forms of cancer and if there is anything we can do to help prevent skin cancer and keep our members safe, we will do it.
“Bathurst Golf Club has sunscreen stations, information posters and reminders throughout the clubhouse and greens to encourage players to be sun safe at all times.”
Dr Ross Wilson also joined the call for better sun safety practices.
“Around 2,000 people die each year from melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer,” Dr Wilson said.
“These are preventable deaths with better skin protection habits and regular skin check ups.
“Every adult in Australia should be getting a skin examination at least once a year.”
Cancer Council NSW advises to protect your skin from getting caught off guard by implementing five simple steps. No matter your age, you can reduce your risk of developing skin cancer by using all five forms of sun protection when the UV level is 3 or above:
· Slip on sun protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
· Slop on SPF50 or SPF50+, broad-spectrum, and water-resistant sunscreen. Apply it 20 minutes before going outdoors and re-apply every two hours afterwards.
· Slap on a hat—broad brim or legionnaire style to protect your face, head, neck and ears.
· Seek shade.
· Slide on sunglasses—make sure they meet Australian Standards.
National Skin Cancer Action Week runs from the 17 to 23 November 2024. For more information head to www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/campaigns-and-events/national-skin-cancer-action-week
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