Professional Cricket Association members to be skin cancer tested
Members of the Professional Cricketer's Association (PCA) will be screened for skin cancer for the first time
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Thursday, 14, May 2009 05:19
Members of the Professional Cricketer's Association (PCA) will be screened for skin cancer for the first time.
Some 400 professional cricketers will be tested for the most common cause of cancer in the UK, after one in seven were referred to specialists when potential melanomas were found during check-ups.
The disease is the second most common cause of cancer in young adults.
The test, which takes 20 minutes, has already been conducted on players at Northamptonshire, Worcestershire, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Somerset, Essex and Sussex.
Hazel Nunn, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: "Too much exposure to UV radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer.
"People, like cricketers, who spend a lot of time outside in the middle of the day need to be especially aware of the risks and protect themselves with hats, clothing and at least factor 15 sunscreen when in strong sunlight.
"When skin cancer is caught early it’s much easier to treat and the chances of survival are greatly improved. If you notice a change in size, shape or colour of a mole, freckle or other patch of skin you should get this checked out by your GP without delay."