A new study led by McGill University examines why people living in Atlantic regions are more at-risk for developing melanoma than other Canadians, providing lessons on skin cancer prevention for the whole country.
Rates of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, have been rising globally, including in Canada. Current estimates indicate that up to 1 in 3 Canadians will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. While some Atlantic provinces such as Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Nova Scotia have the highest incidence rate of melanoma in the country, neighbouring provinces like New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador have rates below or comparable to the Canadian average.
To find out why, the researchers compared UV exposure and behaviours among different groups in Atlantic Canada based on income, education, and gender, among other factors.
Higher-income individuals more at risk for melanoma
The study found that higher-income individuals had an increased risk of melanoma. Risk factors contributing to this include more lifetime sun burns, tanning bed use, and being tanned. Similarly, individuals with university education had higher rates of recreational sun exposure but were less likely to use tanning beds.
“A higher socio-economic status is known to be associated with more vacations in sunny climates and recreational tanning, which likely ultimately drives melanoma incidence in this population,” highlights Dr. Ivan Litvinov, an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Chair of the Dermatology Division at McGill University.
However, the study also showed that individuals earning less than $50,000 a year were more likely to work outdoors and experience occupational sun exposure, placing them at a higher risk of developing skin cancer. These findings suggest that policies to protect outdoor workers could help reduce melanoma risk, say the researchers.
Men are more skeptical of sunscreen
Looking at differences between men and women, the researchers found that women had less sun exposure and practiced more sun protection compared to men. Men were more likely to report more lifetime sunburns as well as occupational and recreational sun exposure. They also had higher rates of melanoma and other skin cancers.
Nevertheless, women tended to wear fewer long-sleeve shirts and frequented tanning beds more. These behaviours, the researchers say, may explain findings in a previous study that show women are more likely to develop melanoma in their extremities.
When it comes to skin cancer prevention, their study found that men express more negative beliefs toward sunscreen use than women. Consistent with this, women were more concerned about new moles and were more likely to seek medical advice from a family physician. The researchers say these behavior patterns may account for the overall lower melanoma incidence and mortality in women.
Putting sun protection knowledge into practice
The findings also show that people living in the most high-risk communities of PEI and Nova Scotia had more sunburns and sun exposure compared to people in regions like Newfoundland and Labrador. Surprisingly, those living in these high-risk communities had more knowledge of sun protection and melanoma awareness as well.
“To prevent skin cancer many Canadians really need to act on the knowledge they already have. Applying sunscreen is one of the effective ways to prevent skin cancer,” says Dr. Litvinov.
Public health efforts aimed at reducing skin cancer should be tailored to target specific demographic groups, the researchers say. “You need to have a different sun protection message when you’re talking to a single young man versus a mother of three children,” says Dr. Litvinov.
“Governments also have a direct role to play in combatting rising rates of melanoma. It’s projected that the financial burden of skin cancer to the Canadian healthcare system could rise to one billion annually by 2030,” he adds. “Canada should follow in the footsteps of many countries that have removed sales tax on sunscreen to promote their use.”
About the study
“Assessing Skin Cancer Risk Factors, Sun Safety Behaviors and Melanoma Concern in Atlantic Canada: A Comprehensive Survey Study” by François Lagacé et al. was published in Cancers.
Utafiti uliofanywa na Chuo Kikuu cha McGill unachunguza kwa nini watu wanaoishi katika maeneo ya Atlantiki wana hatari kubwa ya kupata melanoma kuliko Wakanada wengine, na kutoa masomo juu ya kuzuia saratani ya ngozi kwa nchi nzima. Kiwango cha kansa ya ngozi ya aina ya melanoma, ambayo ni aina ya saratani ya ngozi, kimekuwa kikiongezeka duniani kote, ikiwa ni pamoja na nchini Kanada. Kulingana na takwimu za sasa, karibu kila Mkanada mmoja kati ya watatu ataugua aina fulani ya kansa ya ngozi katika maisha yake. Mikoa ya Atlantic kama vile Prince Edward Island (PEI) na Nova Scotia ina kiwango cha juu cha ugonjwa wa melanoma nchini, na mikoa jirani kama vile New Brunswick na Newfoundland na Labrador ina viwango vya chini au sawa na wastani wa Canada. Ili kujua kwa nini, watafiti walilinganisha mwangaza wa UV na tabia kati ya vikundi tofauti katika Atlantiki Canada kulingana na mapato, elimu, na jinsia, kati ya mambo mengine. Watu wenye mapato ya juu zaidi katika hatari ya melanoma Utafiti uligundua kwamba watu wenye mapato ya juu walikuwa na hatari ya kuongezeka ya melanoma. Mambo ya hatari yanayochangia hali hiyo yanatia ndani kuungua kwa jua zaidi maishani, kutumia kitanda cha kuota jua, na kuota jua. Vivyo hivyo, watu wenye elimu ya chuo kikuu walikuwa na viwango vya juu vya kuathiriwa na jua kwa ajili ya tafrija lakini walikuwa na uwezekano mdogo wa kutumia vitanda vya kuota jua. "Hatua ya juu ya kijamii na kiuchumi inajulikana kuhusishwa na likizo zaidi katika hali ya hewa ya jua na kupumzika kwa burudani, ambayo inawezekana hatimaye inaendesha matukio ya melanoma katika idadi hii ya watu, ""anasisitiza Dk Ivan Litvinov, Profesa Mshirika katika Idara ya Tiba na Mwenyekiti wa Idara ya Dermatolojia katika Chuo Kikuu cha McGill." Hata hivyo, utafiti huo pia ulionyesha kwamba watu wanaopata mapato ya chini ya dola 50,000 kwa mwaka walikuwa na uwezekano mkubwa wa kufanya kazi nje na kupata mwangaza wa jua, na hivyo kuwa na hatari kubwa ya kupatwa na kansa ya ngozi. Utafiti huo unaonyesha kuwa hatua za kulinda wafanyakazi wa nje zinaweza kupunguza hatari ya kuambukizwa ugonjwa wa melanoma. Wanaume wana shaka zaidi ya kinga ya jua: Kwa kuangalia tofauti kati ya wanaume na wanawake, watafiti waligundua kuwa wanawake walikuwa na mwangaza wa jua mdogo na walifanya mazoezi zaidi ya kinga ya jua ikilinganishwa na wanaume. Wanaume walikuwa na uwezekano mkubwa wa kuripoti kuchomwa na jua zaidi maishani na pia kuambukizwa na jua kwa kazi na burudani. Pia walikuwa na viwango vya juu zaidi vya kansa ya ngozi na kansa nyingine za ngozi. Hata hivyo, wanawake walikuwa na mwelekeo wa kuvaa mashati machache yenye mikono mirefu na kutembelea zaidi vyumba vya kupaka rangi. Utendaji huu, watafiti wanasema, unaweza kuelezea matokeo katika utafiti wa awali ambao unaonyesha wanawake wana uwezekano mkubwa wa kuendeleza melanoma katika viungo vyao. Katika utafiti wa kuzuia saratani ya ngozi, wanaume wana maoni mabaya zaidi kuhusu kutumia krimu ya kujikinga na jua kuliko wanawake. Kwa sababu hiyo, wanawake walihangaikia zaidi mole mpya na walikuwa na uwezekano mkubwa zaidi wa kutafuta ushauri wa daktari wa familia. Watafiti wanasema mifumo hii ya tabia inaweza kuelezea jumla ya chini ya melanoma matukio na vifo katika wanawake. Utafiti huo unaonyesha kuwa watu wanaoishi katika jamii zenye hatari kubwa zaidi za PEI na Nova Scotia walikuwa na sunburns zaidi na mwangaza wa jua ikilinganishwa na watu katika mikoa kama Newfoundland na Labrador. Kwa kushangaza, wale wanaoishi katika jamii hizi zenye hatari kubwa walikuwa na maarifa zaidi ya ulinzi wa jua na ufahamu wa melanoma pia. <unk>Kuzuia kansa ya ngozi Wakanada wengi kweli wanahitaji kutenda juu ya maarifa wanayo tayari. Kutumia krimu ya kujikinga na jua ni mojawapo ya njia zenye matokeo za kuzuia kansa ya ngozi, <unk> asema Dakt. Litvinov. "Jitihada za afya ya umma za kupunguza saratani ya ngozi zinapaswa ""kuelekezwa kwa makundi maalum ya idadi ya watu,"" watafiti wanasema." "Unahitaji kuwa na ujumbe tofauti wa ulinzi wa jua unapozungumza na kijana mmoja dhidi ya mama wa watoto watatu", anasema Dakt. Litvinov. <unk> Serikali pia zina jukumu la moja kwa moja katika kupambana na ongezeko la viwango vya melanoma. "Imetarajiwa kwamba mzigo wa kifedha wa saratani ya ngozi kwa mfumo wa huduma ya afya wa Canada unaweza kuongezeka hadi bilioni moja kwa mwaka ifikapo mwaka 2030, ""aliongeza." "Kanada inapaswa kufuata nyayo za nchi nyingi ambazo zimeondoa ushuru wa mauzo kwenye kinga ya jua ili kukuza matumizi yao. ""Kuhusu utafiti ""Kuchunguza Vipengele vya Hatari ya Saratani ya Ngozi ya Ngozi, Tabia za Usalama wa Jua na Wasiwasi wa Melanoma katika Atlantiki ya Canada: Utafiti wa Utafiti wa kina"" na François Lagacé et al." Ilichapishwa katika Cancer.