Question

Can a person with some form of cancer get a suntan, or sunburn?

Question

Can a person with some form of cancer get a suntan, or sunburn?

Answer

It is important to realize that any type of cancer anywhere in the body, can spread. You would be advised to discuss your own condition with your treating doctor, who knows you and your cancer. However, these risk factors for skin cancer which you will read about here may increase your awareness, and help you to understand that skin cancer can be caused by the use of tanning beds or repeated sunburn, even without having cancer elsewhere in the body.
 

The most important risk factors for developing skin cancer are excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, fair complexion, occupational exposure to radium or certain chemicals (for example, arsenic compounds), and family history. Although anyone can get skin cancer, the risk is greatest for people who have fair skin that freckles easily - often those people with red or blond hair and blue or light-colored eyes. UV radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. In particular, childhood sunburns are linked to an increased later risk of melanoma. Some experts estimate that one blistering sunburn will double a person's chance of developing skin cancer. Artificial sources of UV radiation, such as sun lamps and tanning booths, also can cause skin cancer. Contrary to some people's beliefs, suntan is not a protective measure against skin cancer. In fact, tanning is evidence of the same damage occurring in skin cells that causes sunburn. Tanning also is associated with irreversible skin damage (such as early aging).
 

The chance of developing skin cancer is related to lifetime exposure to UV radiation. People who live in areas that get high levels of UV radiation from the sun are more likely to get skin cancer than people who live in other areas. In the United States, skin cancer is more common in Texas than it is in Minnesota, where the sun is not as strong. Worldwide, the highest rates of skin cancer are found in South Africa and Australia, areas that receive high amounts of UV radiation. Elevation (or altitude) also affects UV exposure. Generally, UV exposure is greater at higher elevations (for example, in the mountains) than at lower elevations. Skiing carries a particular risk of significant UV exposure because of the high elevation and the great exposure to sunlight, both direct and reflected from the snow.
 

Melanoma is the rarest, but most virulent, form of skin cancer. Melanoma is a more serious type of cancer than the more common basal cell cancer, or squamous cell cancer. Although the incidence of melanoma is lower than other types of skin cancer, it has the highest death rate and is responsible for 75 percent of all deaths from skin cancer. If neglected, cells often spread internally (metastasise) thus causing death.
 

Because the chance of developing skin cancer is related to lifetime exposure to UV radiation, protection should start in childhood to prevent skin cancer later in life. Most skin cancers appear after age 50, but the sun's damaging effects begin at an early age. Even though most skin cancers are cured, the disease can recur in the same place. Also, people who have been treated for skin cancer have a higher-than-average risk of developing a new cancer elsewhere on the skin. That is why it is so important for people to continue to examine themselves regularly, to visit their doctor for regular check-ups, and to follow the doctor's instructions on how to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer again.
 

Related Links
Types of Skin Cancer
More on Skin Cancer
Do Tanning Beds Cause Skin Cancer ?