SKIN cancer is at a record high and rising in Britain, with cases driven up by package holidays and trendy tans.
Cancer Research UK said there are 17,500 melanoma cases per year and they could surge another 50 per cent to 26,500 per year by 2040.
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of the charity, said the rise is “alarming” and urged people to be careful in the sun.
There is a heat alert in place for this weekend, with temperatures set to reach 30C in some areas.
CRUK said rates have tripled in the over-55s since the 1990s, partly because of a fashion for cheap package holidays and tanning that date back to the 60s.
There are also more people coming forward and getting their skin checked, it added.
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Ms Mitchell said: “It’s promising that more people are seeking treatment for skin cancer earlier and survival is improving.
“But it’s alarming that cases of the disease could soar over the coming years.
“Melanoma is the UK’s fifth most common cancer, and we know that 86 per cent of these skin cancers could be prevented.
“It’s important to take care in the sun and to contact your GP if you notice any unusual changes to your skin.”
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The tell-tale sign of melanoma is a mole that changes.
Top warning signs include:
- It changes size
- It changes colour, potentially becoming darker or patchy
- It changes texture, becoming thicker, swollen, flaky, scabby or crusty
- It becomes painful or itchy, or bleeds
Small wounds like sores or scabs that don’t heal can also be a sign something is wrong.
Survival rates are very high, with 87 per cent of patients living at least 10 years after their diagnosis, but the cancers can spread to other parts of the body.
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Cancer Research’s Dr Julie Sharp said: “The best way to protect your skin when the sun is strong is to spend time in the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm in the UK, and to cover up.
“Wearing sunscreen will also help you stay safe in the sun – make sure you put plenty on and reapply it regularly.”
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