Nurses raise awareness of skin cancer

Macmillan specialist skin cancer nurses from York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will be holding special awareness events in Scarborough to mark Sun Awareness Week starting 5 May. The events are aimed at helping prevent and detect skin cancer. People will be encouraged to regularly self-examine for skin cancer and can learn about the dangers of sunburn and excessive tanning including sunbeds.

Specialist nurse Janet Parish said: "Skin cancer is a growing problem. It is the most common of all cancers but it is also the easiest cancer to cure if it is diagnosed and treated early. It affects all sorts of people, not just those who have spent years holidaying in the sun. We are seeing quite a lot of elderly people who were not aware of the dangers of sun damage when they were young. Those who work outdoors are also more prone to getting skin cancer because of their prolonged exposure to the sun."

Janet will be raising awareness in the Brunswick shopping centre in Scarborough on 9 May from 8.30 -12.30.

Information will be available in York Hospital main foyer from 6 May to 9 May.

08 May 2014