Excessive, careless exposure to the sun increases the chances of developing cancer by 10%.
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As part of Madrid City Council’s Solar Protection Campaign Summer 2015, endorsed by the Spanish Cancer Association (AECC), MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid – Hospiten has handed out 3,000 hats at municipal swimming pools.
With the arrival of the good weather, municipal swimming pools in our country are beginning to fill with people lying in the sun and sunbathing. Although the Spanish are beginning to be more aware of the need to use solar protection, every year around 3,200 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed and that number is growing by 10% a year.
For that reason, experts remind the public of the importance of adopting a series of measures that help prevent the toxic effects of the sun’s radiation and minimize its impact on the skin. “In addition to avoiding exposure to the sun in the middle of the day and using factor 30+ solar protection for most people and factor 50 for children and chronic patients, we must also use items that provide physical protection, such as sunglasses, caps or hats”, explains Dr. Pilar Lopez Criado, medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid – Hospiten.
With that aim, and as part of the Madrid City Council’s Solar Protection Campaign Summer 2015, MD Anderson Madrid – Hospiten has handed out 3,000 hats at the city’s municipal swimming pools. The campaign, endorsed by the Spanish Cancer Association (AECC), aims to reduce excessive exposure to the sun without the use of adequate protection.
For the second year running, the cancer center is taking part in this initiative to make the public aware of the need to take all possible precautions in the sun, not only at the beach or in the mountains, but also in the city. “Solar radiation doesn’t change depending on where you are and its toxic effects are always dangerous and can cause very serious health problems. That is why, even when you stay in the city, you cannot let your guard down when in the sun”, sums up Dr. Lopez Criado.