SUMMER'S JUST AROUND the corner, and sunbathers will be flocking to the beaches. But there's increasing concern about skin cancer as the number of cases has risen.
The Hong Kong Cancer Fund (HKCF) recently launched the SunSmart programme to educate the community, especially young people, about the dangers of ultraviolet (UV) rays.
The fund recommends people use a sunscreen of SPF30 (sun protection factor).
The HKCF is targeting schools with the catch phrase 'Slip, Slop, Slap - slip on a T-shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat'. Flyers will be distributed to students, and guidelines will be provided to teachers, along with posters and stickers.
The HKCF is also running a competition to name their mascot, a SunSmart turtle (see details at the end).
There are various forms of skin cancer. The most serious but least common is melanoma. The first sign is a change in the colour or size of a freckle or mole or the appearance of spots on the skin.
According to data provided by the Hospital Authority, there were about 50 new cases of melanoma in 2001. But the HKCF is concerned about the rising number of non-melanoma skin cancers.
