The truth about tanning
It's a sad time when you realize
that summer is long gone and so is
your tan.
You may be thinking about venturing into the world of indoor tanning to hold on to that bronze goddess glow. Tanning beds may appear to be a quick and relaxing way to keep that tan, but keep reading and see how good an idea it really is.
In 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified tanning beds as a known carcinogen. Just like smoking causes cancer, tanning beds cause cancer. Research has proven that using a tanning bed before the age of 35 increases your risk of melanoma by 75 per cent and just one use of a tanning bed increases your risk of developing melanoma by 20 per cent. These odds are not in your favour. The incidence of melanoma in Ontario has been rising in young adults and the Ontario Ministry of Health is taking a stand.
New legislation restricts youth under 18 from using tanning beds. It also prohibits marketing of tanning services targeted at youth, and if you appear to be under 25, you are required to show identification before you can tan — just like you have to show ID at the liquor store.
Maybe you're still thinking that it's just skin cancer or that it's just a little mole that you can get cut off. That is the best case scenario, but the likelihood of that being the case is slim. Melanoma is one of the fastest spreading and most aggressive cancers out there. Your treatment may not be so simple. You may need extensive surgeries to remove it or even aggressive chemotherapy to save your life. About one in 79 women and one in 63 men in Canada are expected to develop melanoma during his/her lifetime, and one in 420 women and one in 287 men will die from it. This year it is expected that 1,050 Canadians will die from melanoma. Is it worth going in a tanning bed to make your skin darker?
This is something that you can protect yourself from. Staying away from tanning beds will drastically reduce your chances of getting one of the worst cancers there are. Remember, the one good thing about skin cancer is that it shows up right on your skin. Check yourself from time to time. Know your moles. Not sure what to look for? You want to keep an eye on moles on your body that are raised, larger than the end of a pencil eraser, irregular in shape or changing in shape or colour. If you have any concerns about a spot on your body, don't wait to go to the doctor — get it checked out immediately. The survival rate of melanoma is very good if it is caught early.
Kate Neale, a melanoma survivor and Canadian Cancer Society volunteer, has become an advocate for anti-tanning initiatives and played a large role in the new legislation that prevents youth under the age of 18 from using tanning beds. If this article isn't enough to steer you away from using tanning beds, maybe the words of a cancer survivor will convince you to stay away. “At 21 years old, I was diagnosed with skin cancer. I'm 23 now and living with the reality that I've wrecked my health because I used indoor tanning beds as a teen. I've always hoped that one day, no young person in Ontario would be able to use indoor tanning beds like I did. Thanks to the efforts of many, this hope is now a reality.”
For more information on skin cancer and tips to protect yourself, go to the Canadian Cancer Society website at cancer.ca.
You may be thinking about venturing into the world of indoor tanning to hold on to that bronze goddess glow. Tanning beds may appear to be a quick and relaxing way to keep that tan, but keep reading and see how good an idea it really is.
In 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified tanning beds as a known carcinogen. Just like smoking causes cancer, tanning beds cause cancer. Research has proven that using a tanning bed before the age of 35 increases your risk of melanoma by 75 per cent and just one use of a tanning bed increases your risk of developing melanoma by 20 per cent. These odds are not in your favour. The incidence of melanoma in Ontario has been rising in young adults and the Ontario Ministry of Health is taking a stand.
New legislation restricts youth under 18 from using tanning beds. It also prohibits marketing of tanning services targeted at youth, and if you appear to be under 25, you are required to show identification before you can tan — just like you have to show ID at the liquor store.
Maybe you're still thinking that it's just skin cancer or that it's just a little mole that you can get cut off. That is the best case scenario, but the likelihood of that being the case is slim. Melanoma is one of the fastest spreading and most aggressive cancers out there. Your treatment may not be so simple. You may need extensive surgeries to remove it or even aggressive chemotherapy to save your life. About one in 79 women and one in 63 men in Canada are expected to develop melanoma during his/her lifetime, and one in 420 women and one in 287 men will die from it. This year it is expected that 1,050 Canadians will die from melanoma. Is it worth going in a tanning bed to make your skin darker?
This is something that you can protect yourself from. Staying away from tanning beds will drastically reduce your chances of getting one of the worst cancers there are. Remember, the one good thing about skin cancer is that it shows up right on your skin. Check yourself from time to time. Know your moles. Not sure what to look for? You want to keep an eye on moles on your body that are raised, larger than the end of a pencil eraser, irregular in shape or changing in shape or colour. If you have any concerns about a spot on your body, don't wait to go to the doctor — get it checked out immediately. The survival rate of melanoma is very good if it is caught early.
Kate Neale, a melanoma survivor and Canadian Cancer Society volunteer, has become an advocate for anti-tanning initiatives and played a large role in the new legislation that prevents youth under the age of 18 from using tanning beds. If this article isn't enough to steer you away from using tanning beds, maybe the words of a cancer survivor will convince you to stay away. “At 21 years old, I was diagnosed with skin cancer. I'm 23 now and living with the reality that I've wrecked my health because I used indoor tanning beds as a teen. I've always hoped that one day, no young person in Ontario would be able to use indoor tanning beds like I did. Thanks to the efforts of many, this hope is now a reality.”
For more information on skin cancer and tips to protect yourself, go to the Canadian Cancer Society website at cancer.ca.
