This grey area will not appear in your presentation. Skin Cancer Prevention: Indoor Tanning Presentation prepared by: Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario.

Skin Cancer Prevention:

Indoor Tanning

Presentation prepared by: Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division, Public Affairs, PreventionJune 2012 v4

How we’re fighting cancer

• doing everything we can to prevent cancer • funding research to outsmart cancer • empowering, informing and supporting Canadians

living with cancer • advocating for public policies to improve the health of

Canadians • rallying Canadians to get involved in the fight against

cancer

About Skin Cancer

FACT:

Skin cancer is the most common cancer inCanada.

• There are two types of skin cancer:o non-melanoma skin cancero melanoma skin cancer

• Melanoma skin cancer is a more fatal skin cancer.

About Skin Cancer

Melanoma Skin Cancer

• one of the most common cancers in young people aged 15 – 29 in Canada*

• Melanoma – most fatal form of skin cancer

• can be treated if diagnosed early

Indoor Tanning

*Canadian Cancer Statistics 2009

Who uses indoor tanning equipment?

1 in 4 women aged 16 – 24 use tanning equipment*

Indoor Tanning

*(Insight on Cancer: Sun Exposure and Protective Behaviours in Ontario, November 2010 v 8)

Is Indoor Tanning Healthy?

• Indoor tanning equipment emits ultraviolet (UV) rays just like the sun.

• UV rays can be up to 5 times more powerful than the mid-day sun.

• Damage from UV radiation builds up over time. Youth are at great risk.

• Indoor tanning is a known carcinogen.*

Indoor Tanning

* (International Agency for Research on Cancer, The Lancet, Volume 10, August 2009)

Why do people use indoor tanning equipment?

• To tan without burning - 79%

• To relax or feel better - 78%

• To look better - 78%

• Vitamin D - 44%

(Source: Insight on Cancer: Sun Exposure and Protective Behaviours in Ontario November 2010, v 8)

Indoor Tanning

What is the risk of developing melanoma?

Those who use indoor tanning equipment:

•before age 35 yrs have a 75% increased risk of developing melanoma*

*(Facts on Skin Cancer in Ontario News and Information on Ultraviolet Radiation Canadian Cancer Society, Cancer Care Ontario April 2007)

** (International Agency for Research on Cancer, The International Journal of Cancer: 120, 1116 – 1122 2006)

Indoor Tanning

True or False

A base tan protects you from the sun. (true/false)

FALSE - A tan from artificial or natural sources will not protect you against skin cancer.

A tan is a sign of injury to the skin. Damage cumulates over time and cause skin cancer and wrinkling.

What you see…

Do you need to tan indoors to get a healthy dose of vitamin D? (true/false)

FALSE - Because indoor tanning equipment emits harmful ultraviolet radiation, it is a dangerous methods of obtaining vitamin D.

A few minutes a day of unprotected sun exposure is usually all that is needed for the average person to get enough Vitamin D.

It can also be obtained through food rich with Vitamin D or through vitamin supplements.

A tan makes me look healthier. (true/false)

FALSE - You might think you look better but a tan is evidence of skin damage. If you have to tan, try a sunless tanning cream. Just remember that when you are using this type of product that you still need to apply your sunscreen (SPF15 or higher).

What you see…

UVR damage to the skin is only temporary. By resting your skin between UVR exposures, the damage is erased. (true/false)

UVR damage to the skin is only temporary. By resting your skin between UVR exposures, the damage is erased. (true/false)

False - Acute effects of a sunburn do go away, a tan does fade, but UVR damage (i.e. to the DNA in skin cells) remains and cumulates over time.

What you see…

FACT:

• As of 2009 – the World Health Organization listed tanning beds as a known carcinogen!

• Listed as Group 1 – the highest cancer risk category.

Society volunteers and staff have been calling for measures such as:

• Prohibit youth under the age of 18 from using indoor tanning equipment.

• Restrict indoor tanning promotions and marketing targeted to youth.

• Maintain a registry or licensing system of indoor tanning equipment in use in Ontario with fees put towards enforcement.

• Introduce mandatory, comprehensive, Ontario specific training for all staff operating indoor tanning equipment. Training should include operation procedures, maintenance and how to identify people with fair skin who are at greater risk of developing cancer.

• Ensure health risks associated with UVR emitting devices are displayed prominently and in clear view of clients at all indoor tanning facilities.

What you can do:

Take Action!

Save Our Skin (SOS) Indoor Tanning Campaign

E-mail your MPP to advocate forlegislative change.

Early detection of skin cancer

SunSense GuidelinesKnow the skin you are in!

• Check regularly for changes

• See your doctor if you notice:

o birthmark or mole that changes shape, colour, size, surface

o sores that do not healo new growths on skin o patches of skin that bleed

Relaying the real story

Indoor Tanning

For the most up-to-date information:

• visit www.cancer.ca

• call the Canadian Cancer Society Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333

Thank you!Presentation prepared by:

Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division, Public Affairs, PreventionJune 2010