Following his own skin cancer diagnosis, this B.C. man is now working to keep others safe from UV rays
It was just a weird little mole.
Jake MacDonald of Penticton, B.C., hadn't thought much of it, but when his grandmother noticed a mole on his left leg, she suggested he get it checked.
"One of my moles was just a little bit weird in diameter," he told CBC's Radio West host Sarah Penton.
"The borders were a little irregular as well. It just looked off."
Heeding his loved one's advice, he saw a doctor soon after and learned he had melanoma — a form of skin cancer.
"It was definitely a surprise."
According to Melanoma Canada, melanoma rates have tripled in the past 30 years. The cancer is most commonly caused by overexposure to UV radiation from either the sun or artificial sources, like tanning beds.
While MacDonald had the cancer removed and now has a clean bill of health, he recently launched a business to help protect others — making clothes that block out the sun's rays.
WATCH | Why Jake MacDonald launched Enjoy the VU:
MacDonald always loved playing sports and spending time outdoors. But when he was diagnosed in 2018, at age 24, he grew nervous about exposing his skin to the sun's rays.
"As long as that sun's out, I'm definitely going to be thinking about it because every single moment I've got to be sun safe … especially living in a place like the Okanagan."
Safe practices include avoiding the sun during its peak, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., using SPF 50+ water-resistant broad-spectrum sunscreen, wearing UVA/UVB wraparound sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat, and wearing sun protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible, according to Melanoma Canada.
That last one is where MacDonald comes in.
Having left his job in banking last year, he was looking for a career he was passionate about. Then, he found a gap in the clothing market that he felt he could fill.
Just a few weeks ago, with the help of Kickstarter donors, MacDonald launched Enjoy the VU, which sells UPF — also known as ultraviolet protection factor — clothing. His products are rated UPF 50+, which is the highest rating, and most protective, clothing can be. UPF 50+ clothing blocks at least 98 per cent of UV rays from reaching the skin, according to the Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation.
To put it into context, the foundation suggests a typical white T-shirt has a UPF rating of about five.
Dr. Jason Rivers, a clinical professor of dermatology at UBC and past president of the Canadian Dermatology Association, said sun protection from clothing varies depending on fabrics.
"UPF fabrics are designed to maintain their protective ability through different conditions," he said.
Rivers said preventative measures like this and early detection will save lives.
Right now, there's only one style: long-sleeve golf polos, in three colourful designs, made in China and lab tested for UPF. He's also got some hats coming in soon. At the time of publication, he said they were still being tested for UPF.
MacDonald said he'd been wearing UPF clothes before he started the company, but wanted something with a little more flair.
"I guess the whole idea was creating those clothes for myself. I'm a young guy, so I like to wear clothes that are a little bit more fun and have fun designs and whatnot, and I just found there wasn't a whole lot of that for UPF clothing."
He said while the selection is limited right now, once he can gauge the demand for his products, he hopes to introduce a few more styles, including options for women and children.
MacDonald's work isn't limited to his business; he said he's also using his social media to share his story and talking to friends and customers about the harms of UV exposure every chance he gets. He's been working with Merck's Practice Skintimacy campaign, educating others about melanoma.
"It started out just me making clothes for myself, but it's really evolved into just being a voice for skin cancer," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The #1 Habit for Healthy Blood Sugar While Traveling, According to Dietitians
Reviewed by Dietitian Karen Ansel, M.S., RDNTraveling can be fun and exciting, but it can also make it tricky to eat right and exercise. This can be especially challenging for people with diabetes, say experts. Walking after meals is an easy, enjoyable way to keep blood sugar in check when bodies crave routine. Yet nothing throws off our day-to-day patterns quite like travel. Whether it's for work or pleasure, travel can be an exciting way to gain new experiences in a place far from home. However, time zone changes, less opportunity to exercise, new cuisines and disrupted mealtimes can make managing your blood glucose a challenge. Luckily, there's one simple habit that can help, and it's free and easy to do just about anywhere in the world. It's walking after meals. Read on to learn why diabetes experts say lacing up your walking shoes after eating is an outstanding way to keep your blood sugar in check when you're on the road, plus other travel tips to help keep your numbers in range. After you eat, your blood sugar naturally rises as your body breaks down its carbohydrates for energy. In response, your pancreas produces insulin to ferry the glucose from your blood into your cells. However, when you have diabetes or insulin resistance, this system doesn't work effectively, and post-meal blood sugar can rise above the normal range. When you're traveling, you may have less access to healthy foods, which may set you up for higher blood sugar. The good news is a post-meal stroll can help. 'Walking after meals is a standard recommendation for all my clients with diabetes,' says Vandana Sheth, RDN, CDCES, FAND. In fact, research suggests that walking after meals can help lower blood glucose levels in people with diabetes, says Kim Rose-Francis, RDN, CDCES, LD. 'Walking helps to shuttle glucose from the bloodstream into your muscles, where it is used for energy,' says Rose-Francis. That means you'll have a lower rise in blood sugar post-meal, which can also help you avoid a blood sugar crash later. If you can't swing a long walk, even shorter post-meal walks may be beneficial, provided you do them repeatedly throughout the day. For instance, one study of people without diabetes found that taking frequent two- to five-minute walks every 20 or 30 minutes helped lower their blood glucose levels. So, even a little exercise 'snack' is likely better than nothing at all. Physical activity doesn't just help your muscles use up that glucose for fuel. It also increases insulin sensitivity, which is your body's ability to efficiently use the insulin it produces. This, in turn, helps your cells use the glucose in your bloodstream more effectively, translating to lower blood sugar levels. A post-meal walk is so effective that research has found it improves insulin sensitivity in the short term and as long as 24 hours afterward. What's more, the longer you walk, the greater the blood sugar-lowering effects both immediately and over the next day. Our minds and bodies are closely connected. So much so that stress can manifest itself in physical symptoms like higher blood sugar. 'When you are stressed due to tight travel schedules, your brain signals your body to release cortisol, a stress hormone that plays a key role in glucose metabolism,' says Rose-Francis. This hormone prepares the body for 'fight or flight' by releasing glucose and by inhibiting the action of insulin. That might have been helpful for our ancestors who had to outrun lions in the wild. But not so much when you're trying to enjoy your vacation. 'Walking, along with other forms of physical activity, may help reduce this cortisol response, which may positively influence your blood glucose levels,' says Rose-Francis. Taking a walk after meals is just one of many strategies you can use to help manage your blood glucose while traveling. Here are a few other expert tips to keep your numbers in range. Try Muscle-Building Exercises. Walking is an excellent form of exercise. But if it's pouring rain or you have difficulty walking, there are other exercises that can work. 'Try engaging the muscles in your legs by doing standing squats in place,' says Rose-Francis. 'This activates major muscle groups, allowing them to absorb glucose from the bloodstream and use it for energy.' If standing is difficult, try some soleus calf pushups, which have been shown to help lower blood sugar. To do them, Rose-Francis says: 'Sit down, keep your feet flat, then lift your heels while the front of your feet stay on the ground. Drop your heels back down and repeat.' Carry a Water Bottle. 'Dehydration often leads to higher concentrations of glucose in your bloodstream, contributing to elevated blood sugars,' says Patricia Kolesa. M.S., RDN. 'If you plan to travel to a warmer climate or have several activities planned generally, it can be challenging to stay hydrated.' So, toss an empty water bottle into your carry-on to bring through security and fill it up later at water stations or before you leave your hotel, she says. Pack Blood Sugar–Friendly Snacks. Finding nutritious snacks and meals when you're traveling isn't always easy. As an insurance policy, pack a few of your favorite blood sugar–friendly snacks before you leave. Sheth recommends nonperishable snacks that provide a combination of carbs, protein and fiber, like dry-roasted edamame or trail mix with nuts and seeds. Fiber is especially helpful as it slows carbohydrate digestion, which can translate to steadier blood sugar levels, says Kolesa. She recommends snacks with at least 2 grams of fiber per serving. When you're away from home, it can be difficult to maintain your usual eating, sleeping and exercise routine. That can make managing blood sugar seem tricky. But dietitians say walking after meals is a simple habit that can help keep your blood glucose in check when you're on the road. It's so effective that it's their No. 1 habit for healthy blood sugar when traveling. And you don't have to sweat it out for miles. Even short post-meal strolls may help lower your blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity. Plus, walking is a great way to sightsee, and it's free. So, toss a comfortable pair of walking shoes into your bag and get ready to hit the road! Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Major organizational dysfunction led to death of senior in Châteauguay hospital: Quebec coroner
A coroner's report is shedding light on the death of an 80 year-old-man who died at Anna-Laberge Hospital in 2023 of natural causes, but in a context of "significant organizational dysfunction." Yvon Brossoit died from heart failure after waiting in the emergency room of the Châteauguay, Que., hospital for over 11 hours without being re-evaluated. On Nov. 29, 2023, he presented himself at the hospital due to abdominal pain. He was classified as a code 3 in triage, which means he should have been reassessed every 30 minutes while waiting to see a doctor, coroner Jean Brochu wrote. But that never happened. Brossoit's condition deteriorated and he died 11 hours later from a ruptured abdominal aneurysm without having been seen by a medical professional. In his report published Saturday, Brochu indicated that significant organizational dysfunction is partly to blame for Brossoit's death. Brochu said certain precautions, that would have placed Brossoit in a separate area with a cardiac monitor, were not applied. And the emergency room was operating at 191 per cent capacity on the day he died. Majority of recommendations already in place, says CISSS In his report, Brochu made a number of recommendations, including setting up a computer case management system in the emergency room and assigning a nurse to patients who are waiting on stretchers. An investigation carried out by the team in charge of quality, evaluation, performance and ethics following Brossoit's death concluded that "the organizational context, the organization of resources and the operation of the emergency department on Nov. 29, 2023 at Anna-Laberge Hospital certainly had an impact on the evolution of Mr. Brossoit's condition and on the possibility of directing him to the required treatment area." The investigation also showed that the criteria for referring patients to the emergency department – implemented in February 2023 during a visit by a team from the Ministry of Health and Social Services – were not in place on that day. "The implementation of these criteria would have allowed Mr. Brossoit to be directed to a stretcher area with a heart monitor and not to be returned to the waiting room," read Brochu's report. The office of Quebec's health minister, in an email sent to CBC, said it would leave it to the hospital to comment on the situation. The CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest, the agency that manages the hospital, said it has reviewed the report and implemented the "vast majority" of recommendations. "There has been a 20 per cent reduction in ER occupancy, a 20 per cent increase in the number of admissions, a reduction in the number of ambulance patients and a significant drop in the average length of stay," wrote Jade St-Jean, a spokesperson for the CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest, in a statement. "Among the actions put in place are the implementation of a hospital flow management centre, the addition of a computerized management system in the emergency department [and] improvements to the reassessment process."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Saskatoon City Hospital increases hours for emergency department
The Saskatoon City Hospital is increasing the hours of operation for its emergency department from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The new schedule begins June 29. It follows several months of reduced hours at the emergency department, which was only operational from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The hospital says the hours have expanded because the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has made progress in stabilizing physician staffing, and is now taking a "phased approach" to resuming full-time hours. The introduction of 109 new acute care beds at the hospital is also still underway. The initiative, funded by an SHA infusion of $15 million, began in March 2025 and is expected to take 12 to 16 months. Understaffing has been a persistent issue at Saskatoon hospitals. On New Year's Eve 2024, the emergency department temporarily reduced its hours to just 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., saying some of its doctors were sick. In May 2025, emergency room patients at the Royal University Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital were forced to be treated in hallways and waiting rooms due to lack of available space. Alongside the increased hours at the Saskatoon City Hospital, the emergency departments at the Royal University Hospital and St Paul's Hospital remain open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
