Today, on World Cancer Day, a World Health Organisation global study was published in the prestigious Nature Medicine journal.

The study across 185 countries showed that 2 in every 5 cancers could be prevented. It analysed leading risk factors, and found that in Australia the leading risk factor linked to preventable cancers in men is exposure to UV radiation.

The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) shared the results of this study and spoke to Melanoma Institute Australia cancer epidemiologist Professor Anne Cust, and to melanoma survivor and sun safety advocate Andrew Camfield.

Australians have known for decades that high UV levels, outdoor lifestyles and a large fair­-skinned population put us at greater risk of skin cancers. A 2012 study estimated 96 per cent of melanomas in Australia were caused by UV exposure.

“But what is less known is that men are more likely to get skin cancers than their female peers once they reach the age of 45,” said Prof Anne Cust.

The study is a warning to all Australians but particularly to men, who generally spend more time outdoors and use less UV protection.

“You can’t change the damage you’ve done, but you can make changes to reduce your future risk,”

Andrew Camfield is a father to teenage boys, a keen swimmer, a Stage III melanoma survivor, and a man eager to raise awareness around sun safety.

Andrew grew up in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, spending much of his youth in the water, wearing a maximum of SPF 15 (if he remembered to slop it on). Like many kids growing up in the 70s and 80s, Andrew thought having a tan meant you were healthy.

Now cancer-free, Camfield remains a keen ocean swimmer but avoids long swims after 8am and wears a rashie in hotter parts of the day. He relentlessly reminds his friends and three teenage sons to do the same.

Read full SMH article here (subscribers only).

See Nature Medicine article here.

📷 SAM MOOY