“SPF, even in the North West!” Youngsters urge grown-ups to protect themselves in the sun

Children from across the region are being called upon to remind grown-ups how to protect themselves in the sun, even on cloudy days.

Launched today (Tuesday 24 June), SPF, even in the North West! uses local youngsters’ voices to champion sun safety, whether at home or abroad, in a bid to lower the risk of developing skin cancer.

Overall, people living across the region are 13% more likely to develop skin cancer than those living elsewhere in England.

In Merseyside, rates are 35% higher, while those living in Cumbria are 33% more likely to develop the condition. Rates in Cheshire and Lancashire are 32% and 15% higher than the national norm, respectively.

Now, North West Cancer Research is highlighting the dangers of the sun’s UV rays, urging adults especially to protect their own skin, just as carefully as they do for their little ones.

Among those supporting SPF, even in the North West! is dad-of-one Daniel Lloyd, who was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer last year.

Daniel, from Bolton, initially visited his GP after his wife noticed a mole on his back had changed in shape and colour, but was initially told it was not a concern.

The 36-year-old said: “I have a few moles on my back but, obviously, due to where they are, I can’t see them myself, so I’ll often ask my wife to check for me and tell me if something doesn’t look right.

“She was worried about one in particular and urged me to go to the doctor – however, after being referred to a dermatologist, they told me it was nothing to worry about and sent me on my way.

“It didn’t improve though, so I went back and saw a different dermatologist. Again, they didn’t seem concerned but arranged for me to have it removed.

“At no point was the word ‘cancer’ even mentioned, and it wasn’t until I was away in Ibiza that I got a phone call to say I needed to come in urgently to see a consultant when I was back home. Being told a couple of days later that I had melanoma skin cancer shocked me beyond belief – my first thought was my daughter, it all didn’t seem real.”

Luckily, Daniel’s skin cancer was caught and was removed at its earliest stage.

However, he is passionate about raising awareness among others, saying: “Having fair skin, I’ve always been careful in the sun…although I will admit that I probably chose the lower SPF options when I was younger as I wanted a tan. But, I’ve definitely become more vigilant about sunscreen in this country, as well as when on holiday.”

He added: “You know your own body – for anyone who is worried about a mole or something on their skin looking a bit different, just go to the doctor. If it wasn’t for my wife pushing me to go, it could’ve been a very different story for me.”

SPF, even in the North West encourages everyone to wear sunscreen of at least SPF30 and reapply it regularly, even on cloudy days, limiting time in the sun between 10am and 3pm.

Professor Rowan Pritchard-Jones, Medical Director NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, is also a leading consultant in plastic reconstructive surgery at Whiston Hospital.

He said: “Unfortunately, we are still seeing a steady increase in the number of people being diagnosed with skin cancer.

“The more we talk about how to prevent it from developing with sunscreen, the more chance we have of reducing the number of cases we see each year and, ultimately, save lives.

“I always say to my patients that it is about getting the balance right – we need sunshine but we do not need sun damage. We should enjoy the sun, whether it’s away on holiday or here in the North West, but it’s essential that we follow the very simple steps to protect ourselves.”

Common symptoms of skin cancer include moles changing in shape or size or new ones appearing.  

Alastair Richards, CEO North West Cancer Research, who has also had skin cancer, said: “Within our region, we see consistently high rates of cancer that are often above the national average. This is certainly true of skin cancer, but it does not need to be that way.

“Our mission is to tackle the cause of cancer in our area, funding research into treatments and preventative measures to create a future that is free from cancer.

“But awareness is also key. SPF, even in the North West is not about telling people to fear the sun or to stay indoors. Instead, it is reminding everyone – especially adults – to take the necessary steps to protect themselves in the same way they do for children, to help reduce their risk of skin cancer.”

For further information about the campaign and North West Cancer Research, visit: nwcr.org/protectwithspf