Dangers of cancer not only skin deep

Dangers of skin cancer not only skin deep

- MNA on behalf of Netcare

South Africans spend a great many hours outdoors. All the while the sun above, providing warmth and energy necessary for our survival, is also posing one of the greatest risks to our health if we do not all protect ourselves from its dangerous cancer-causing rays.

According to Dr Dineo Tshabalala, a medical oncologist practising at Netcare Olivedale Hospital, if left undetected skin cancer can be devastating in ways people often do not realise. “Skin cancer is often thought of as being quite literally only on the surface of our bodies. Yet the threat is not only skin deep – without early treatment skin cancer can spread, metastasising to other organs.”

According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, and as South Africa has one of the highest monitored ultraviolet (UV) levels in the world, it also has one of the highest incidences of skin cancer globally. UVB rays can cause sunburn within 15 minutes, resulting in permanent damage, while UVA rays can contribute to ageing the skin and DNA damage. Damage from both UVA and UVB rays can lead to skin cancer.

Click on the newspaper below to read more (see page 11).