Mole and skin-lesion checks at Wolverhampton NHS drop-in event
Last year, Cancer Research UK said melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK rose by almost a third between 2009 and 2019.The charity report suggested around 17,000 melanoma cases every year were preventable - with almost nine in 10 caused by too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation.Andrea Smith, clinical nurse specialist at the Wolverhampton NHS trust, said: "Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, but most cases are preventable by taking proper precautions in the sun."It's really important that everyone knows how to best protect and look after their skin to help prevent skin cancer forming, and know how to check their skin properly to help spot any issues as quickly as possible."These events are a fantastic way for us to raise awareness of skin cancer but also foster a culture of proactive skin health, hopefully allowing us to detect cancer when it's easier to treat or avoid it altogether."The team shared the following tips to help prevent sun damage:Avoid tanning beds: tanning beds emit harmful UV radiation and increase the risk of skin cancerUse sun protection: always wear sunscreen with a high SPF, and reapply every two hours, especially after swimming or sweatingSeek shade: avoid prolonged sun exposure, especially during peak hours between 10:00 BST and 16:00 BST and avoid burning.Protective clothing: cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses to shield your skin from harmful UV rays.Check your skin for changes regularly and report any skin changes to your GP or nurse promptlyPeople who would like a free mole check, leaflets, advice or a chat in confidence are encouraged to attend the event next week.
Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Children's supplement recalled over fears it contains prescription-only sleep drug
A health alert has been issued to parents over a brand of children 's magnesium gummies after batches were found to contain a prescription-only drug used to aid sleep. Melatonin, which may cause drowsiness, headaches, dizziness and nausea, was detected in Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies made by Nutrition Ignition. The synthetic hormone is not listed on the packaging of the raspberry-flavoured gummies. Health chiefs have ordered the gummies to be removed from sale, working with online retailers to withdraw all listings. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned parents to stop giving them to children and to safely dispose of any left. According to top US research school John Hopkins Medicine, people should not use melatonin if they have and autoimmune disorder, a seizure disorder or depression. It also says melatonin supplements may raise blood sugar. Experts at the agency, who tested two batches of the supplements, found between 1.5 and 1.7mg of melatonin in each gummy. The usual adult dose of prescription melatonin, to help severe sleep problems or to recover from jet lag, is 2mg. If prescribed for children, the recommended starting dose is 1mg but may be increased to up to 5mg a day. The product packaging advised one or two gummies per day, depending on the child's age. MHRA chiefs say advice should be sought from a healthcare professional if a child has any worrying side effects. According to the NHS, melatonin takes up to two hours to work. It is usually recommended for up to 13 weeks, and anyone taking it for a long time might need help to come off it. But the MHRA says lasting harm is not expected when ingesting melatonin at high levels, and the body typically clears it within 12 hours. Anyone who has the gummies at home is advised to store them in a tamper-proof container until they take it to a pharmacy for disposal. The gummies must now be regulated as a medicine. Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies were promoted as supporting 'calm, focus and digestion '. Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the MHRA, said: 'Side-effects such as headache, hyperactivity, a feeling of dizziness and abdominal pain have been reported in children when melatonin is prescribed and used for its licensed indications. No serious side- effects were observed in studies in children. 'Anyone who suspects that their child or a child in their care is having a side-effect from this product is advised to stop taking it and speak to a healthcare professional and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.'
The Independent
42 minutes ago
- The Independent
Parents urged to stop using brand of children's magnesium gummies due to harmful side effects
Parents have been urged to stop giving their children a brand of gummies after testing revealed the presence of an undeclared prescription-only medicine for sleep disorders. Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies claims to help reduce tiredness and boost the immune system, but now the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is working with online retailers to remove the product from sale. Magnesium glycinate is a dietary supplement that can help with anxiety and improve sleep. However, tests on two batches of this specific brand showed between 1.5 and 1.7mg of melatonin in each individual gummy. Melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, is naturally produced by the body. However, a synthetic version is authorised for use on prescription in the UK for adults and children over the age of six with sleep disorders such as insomnia. If prescribed, the recommended starting dose is 1mg for children. According to the MHRA, melatonin is not listed anywhere on the packaging of Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies. The packaging advises a dose of one to two gummies per day. Taking too much melatonin can cause headaches, drowsiness, dizziness and nausea. Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at MHRA, said: 'We advise any parent or caregiver to stop use of this product and safely dispose of it. ' Side effects such as headache, hyperactivity, a feeling of dizziness and abdominal pain have been reported in children when melatonin is prescribed and used for its licensed indications. No serious side effects were observed in studies in children. 'Anyone who suspects that their child, or a child in their care, is having a side effect from this product is advised to stop taking it and speak to a healthcare professional and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.' Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies are sold online as a food supplement, but the MHRA has now removed the product from sale and is working with online retailers to remove all listings.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Figures gathered from NHS trusts reveal A&E ‘Uber ambulance crisis' in England
Growing numbers of patients are finding their own way to A&E instead of taking ambulances with nearly 2.7 million people making their own way to emergency departments last year. The figure is a 14% increase from 2.36 million in 2019, and highlights the number of people losing faith in ambulance services, the Liberal Democrats have warned, after gathering the data from NHS trusts. 'These figures lay bare an Uber ambulance crisis, where people do not think they can rely on ambulance services even in the most serious of circumstances. This could have deadly consequences if people have lost faith that ambulances will be there when they need them,' said Helen Morgan MP, the Liberal Democrat health and social care spokesperson. The Lib Dems called on the government to invest £50m each year into an emergency fund to ensure community ambulance stations do not close and to recruit and train paramedics. The numbers obtained by the Lib Dems through freedom of information requests to NHS trusts showed the highest rise in Sandwell and West Birmingham, where there was a 320% increase in the number of people arriving at A&E without an ambulance compared to 2019. The numbers of people taking taxis or other forms of transport to a hospital did rely on the severity of their condition. Code 1 incidents – the most severe category for those needing immediate medical attention – saw a 24% drop in the number of people arriving without an ambulance compared to 2019. There was a rise however of 54% in code 2 incidents, where patients require urgent attention. The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives said there can be times when it was appropriate for patients to make their own way to hospital, so that those with the most severe conditions could be prioritised. 'Current data proves that NHS ambulance services have never been busier answering 999 calls and responding to more patients than ever before, something that is testament to our incredibly hard-working frontline staff, as well as those handling the calls and dispatching the most appropriate clinical response to patients in greatest need,' said Anna Parry, managing director of the AACE. Dennis Reed, director of the Silver Voices NGO which advocates for elderly people in Britain, said the lack of ambulance availability was caused by them having to wait outside hospitals because of a lack of available beds, a problem he said could be solved by investing in social care to ensure older people could be cared for at home. 'This government has not sorted out the social care crisis and comes up with all sorts of other ideas instead,' said Reed, who believed the Lib Dem proposal of a £50m emergency fund would 'only help around the margins' unless social care is invested in. Caroline Abrahams, Age UK charity director, said: 'So many people in acute medical need going to hospital under their own steam, including those in late old age, reflect an ambulance service struggling to cope. Even once these people arrive they may face a long wait for treatment, possibly on a trolley in an overspill area, not even in A&E. "This is a truly frightening scenario for the public that diminishes their trust in the NHS and as such is a problem that should be a top priority for politicians to solve.'
