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Builders tans: a guide

Skin cancer (malignant melanoma) is the fifth most common cancer in the UK [i]. With diagnosis rates rising faster than any of the current top ten cancers in the UK [ii], men, particularly those who work outdoors like builders and construction workers are at even greater risk of developing the disease.

That’s why this Sun Awareness Week [iii] (4-10 May 2015) we are supporting Macmillan to promote staying safe in the sun while working outside.

Avoid getting a dodgy builders’ tan like in our infographic below!

Men are a particularly hard to reach audience for Macmillan due to the fact that they are less aware (and therefore are less likely to report) signs and symptoms of cancer than women – despite being 60% more likely than women to get cancer [iv].

Macmillan Skin Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist, Carol Goodman, said:  “Skin cancer is often overlooked in comparison to other cancers, but the numbers of people being diagnosed have risen fivefold since the 1970s[v].  We need to encourage more men to be aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer, so we’re particularly thrilled to have the support from Jewson to help us reach a particularly hard to reach group about this important issue. ”

Peter Stringer, Managing Director at Jewson, said: “It is shocking that the number of people diagnosed with skin cancer is on the rise. Through working with Macmillan to raise awareness in our branches this Sun Awareness Week, we hope to be able to educate our male customers and colleagues to take control of their health and seek medical help sooner.”

For more information, or if you are affected by skin cancer, please visit www.macmillan.org.uk/sunaware or call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00.

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[i] CRUK 2011, http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/skin/incidence/

[ii] CRUK 2014, http://publications.cancerresearchuk.org/downloads/Product/CS_KF_SKIN.pdf

[iii] Sun Awareness Week, run by The British Association of Dermatologists http://www.bad.org.uk/for-the-public/sun-awareness-campaign/sun-awareness-week

[iv]  Macmillan, August 2014, Macmillan internal report: Insight into men with cancer, their needs, attitudes, behaviours

[v] CRUK, 2014, http://publications.cancerresearchuk.org/downloads/Product/CS_KF_SKIN.pdf