Nurse urges everyone to stay safe in the sun
A Swansea Bay skin cancer nurse is urging people to enjoy the sun safely this summer.
Hannah Davies (pictured above), is a Macmillan skin cancer clinical nurse specialist with Swansea Bay University Health Board. She has spoken out after seeing an increase in cases year on year.
She is not advocating people stay out of the sun altogether but strongly advises them to take precautions to protect themselves first.
Hannah said: “Skin cancer is on the rise. It's on a trajectory that is set to continue with the numbers going up each year.
“It's a big issue within Swansea Bay and the whole of Wales.
“Therefore it's important to raise awareness and get information out there so people are aware of the signs and symptoms; what to look for.
“It's about being mindful about the dangers and knowing how to stay safe in the sun. Knowing about safe exposure, being careful about not letting yourself burn.”
She added: “If somebody has one blistering sunburn during childhood, that can more than double their chance of getting melanoma later in life.
“I've seen so many people with bright red shoulders, and blisters. So it's about that awareness - knowing that something, which is so easily preventable, can have a big impact.”
Hannah listed her top tips for staying safe in the sun.
She said: “Applying sunscreen around 20 minutes before going out in the sun to make sure you've got that protection on board.
“Regularly reapply sunscreen if you are in the water or sweating a lot, and aim to avoid the sun at the peak times - between 11am and 3pm when the UV rays are at their highest.
“Try to seek shade where possible, wear protective clothing, hats and sunglasses, and apply a minimum of factor 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen.”
Her key message is to enjoy the sun responsibly.
She added: “We don't want to stop anyone enjoying themselves and making the most of the nice weather when we have it. It’s just about being aware of how to protect yourself whilst you're enjoying it.”
Hannah said: “We are aiming to educate people and raise awareness on the importance of safe sun exposure and know what to look for with regards to changes to their skin.
“It is important to become familiar with your own body and your own skin, and know what to look for when things change, as early detection is key.
“You are looking for changes in size, shape, colour, itching or bleeding to an existing lesion, something new or anything that stands out as what we call an ‘ugly duckling’.
“As soon as something changes, or you're concerned, go straight to the GP.
“Either you will get reassurance or a referral for treatment as soon as possible.
‘‘Often or not, if skin cancer is detected early, removal of the lesion is the only treatment needed.’’
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