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Kiwi men 'blasé' about skin cancer

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Kiwi men 'blasé' about skin cancer

3News NZ

People in their 20s were most likely to not worry about their skin

People in their 20s were most likely to not worry about their skin

Kiwi men are being targeted in a warning over sun exposure.

Canstar New Zealand national manager Derek Bonnar says death rates from melanoma in New Zealand are higher among men and appear to be increasing.

"Twenty-six percent of females have said that they wear sunscreen every day, not just in the summer," he told RadioLIVE.

"But only 8 percent of males do that, so it appears that females are more conscious about skin protection throughout the year, not just in summer."

The Melanoma Foundation says sun protection is vital from September to April.

"We're just too blasé in New Zealand," says Melanoma Foundation interim CEO Kylie Williams.

"We're just not made for this sun, we're not made for this lack of ozone layer," she said.

Two-thirds of New Zealanders haven't been checked by a skin specialist in the past five years either.

"Men just have this 'she'll be right' attitude and think they won't get burned and if they do, it won't matter," Ms Williams told the New Zealand Herald.

People in their 20s were more likely to not worry about their skin than any other age group.

"I think younger Kiwis may have forgotten or just don't realise how dangerous exposure to UV rays can be and the damage they can inflict," Mr Bonnar told the Herald.

3 News / RadioLIVE

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Comments

17/05/2013 3:52:34 p.m.

Kieran wrote:

We are what we eat folks.. so this means we are what we are Not eating.. if our body lacks the ability to kill old cells before they turn rogue (i.e. on their way to cancer) then that is what our body will be. More and more rogue cells until a the whole situation gets out of hand and we develop a cancer. Its very very unfortunate but your local GP may not know about the leading research in this area.. so I urge people concerned about cancer to search the internet for 'cannabis cures cancer' or 'Medical Marijuana' Even if your GP has done the research CBD and THC effects on cancer cells he is not in a legal position to recommend a corse of treatment to you. Nor are there any legal products available today that work as well as the natural herb. Its a herb! it will not make you crazy, it will not make you high if eaten.. its just herb, one that cures cancer.. well according 1000's of personal testimonials available on the internet it does.

6/09/2012 7:19:18 p.m.

S wrote:

A lot of us were covering up in the sun and now many people are low in vitamin D and told to get out in the sun!

6/09/2012 12:04:16 p.m.

Greg wrote:

Could it be more due to the fact that men work outside more than women do. Statistics are all great but without context they mean nothing. How come breast cancer for women get far more coverage and funding than mens problems which kill more of us. Since we supposably earn more and pay more tax youd think the state would work harder at keeping us alive.

6/09/2012 10:08:38 a.m.

Aiden wrote:

you are right Grant, Vitamin D is very important. Sunblock is so full of cancer causing chemicals by the way grant. There is also research that the explosion in skin cancers is directly connected to fluorescent lights. So no I wont put sunblock on and I will continue to do as my parents and their parents have always done and use the sun in moderation for the vitamins that it gives my body. btw Grant do you know what ACC recommend elderly people do to reduce falls, take vitamin D.

6/09/2012 7:09:13 a.m.

Grant wrote:

The damage of sun exposure is nothing compared to the damage caused by dogooder health organisations.
I suggest people read Ian Wishart's book on Vitamin D. His book and the research he quotes mirrors my experiences and research.