In my younger years I was one of those sun reflector, baby oil and iodine sun worshipers. Now I’m paying for it. Recently I had nine moles removed with more in my future. All were OK, but I feel like Swiss Cheese.
The subject matter for the mini-columns I write in our local paper often come from personal experience. So here’s the latest, right in time for unprecedented sunshine and heat in British Columbia:
The scoop on skin cancer:
The Canadian Dermatological Association reports that teens are being diagnosed with a skin cancer typically seen in people over 50,
- There is no such thing as a healthy tan.
- Sun exposure is responsible for 90% of all skin cancers.
- Any sunburn can cause irreversible damage.
- Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.
- Peeling is the body’s method of getting rid of damaged skin.
- Sunscreen should be applied thirty minutes prior to sun exposure,
- There are no safe ultraviolet rays, a form of radiation that penetrates the skin.
- When treated early, most skin cancers are curable. Melanoma is responsible for 75% of skin cancer deaths and its incidence has increased 1800% since 1930.
- Avoid sun exposure especially between 10:00am and 4:00 pm.
- SPF 30 sunscreen still allows exposure to 3.3% of harmful UV-B rays,
This shawl won’t keep the sun out, but it will keep Cousin Lena warm at her daughter’s late September wedding in Denmark:
Life's a Stitch 
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