Sun Balance

The cancer research industry is presiding over a stark set of trends. In the last 30 years overall cancer rates have increased by about 20% (with the notable exception of lung cancer due to decreased levels of smoking) while survival rates have increased by a similar amount. In other words in our battle against this major critical disease, we are more or less at a standstill. A raft of factors are responsible; obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyles, stress, toxicity in food, water and air – and sun exposure! The single fastest growing type of cancer is Malignant Melanoma.

A little sun is good for you – very good – but too much can kill you and even it it doesn’t, it will destroy your skin, not to mention the fact that treatment for cancer can be harrowing. For a stark reminder of the dangers look at the British and American cancer incidence statistics. Living in Australia has made me especially aware of the dangers of skin cancer. Despite a high profile and sustained ‘slip-slop-slap’ campaign by the government, their own projections (to 2011) show that their success to date is limited to arresting the rate of increase. The best strategy with cancer is a lifetime of active prevention.

OK, there endeth the lecture. Here is my light hearted reminder to ‘cover up’ – a shot from ‘November Girl’.

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