Rise in skin cancer in TT

WHILE hardly any cases of skin cancer occurred in TT ten years ago, today it is increasing, warned TT Cancer Society team leader Sherma Mills-Serrette on Thursday.

She spoke at a webinar on the ozone layer and skin cancer held by the National Ozone Unit of the Environmental Policy and Planning Division in the Ministry of Planning and Development.

Mills-Serrette identified several causes of aggressive breast cancer, saying two women were diagnosed ironically after radiation treatment for another type of cancer. “They were having treatment for aggressive cancer and came down with skin cancer.

“There are lots of risk factors with cancer we have been noting over the years, within the last ten years. But before, we hardly saw skin cancers here in TT.” Mills-Serrette said melanoma cancers often run in families, as indicated by a person’s family history.

Also at risk of skin cancer are people with depressed immune systems such as those living with AIDS/HIV, plus those who are lighter-skinned. Regarding age and gender, Mills-Serrette said women under 50 are at higher risk than when they are older, but the risk for men increases in those over 50.

She said most new cases of skin cancer were due to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which changes the DNA in human cells.

Mills-Serrette advised people to avoid skin cancer by limiting their UV exposure, such as by using hats, adequate clothing, sunscreen and sun shades.

“Don’t use tanning beds or sun lamps,” she advised. Urging people to “know your skin,” Mills-Serrette advised people to try to detect any skin cancer sites by self-examination.

Mills-Serrette said the earth’s ozone layer reducing UV radiation reaching humankind but has been thinned out by industrial chemicals such as CFCs  (chlorofluorocarbons) used in fridges.

Moderating the session was national ozone officer Dr Marissa Gowrie.

She built on Mills-Serrette’s warning about ozone-depleting chemicals to urge people to ensure their fridge technician uses proper processes to handle these substances.