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Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Many in the sunburnt country still like the look from feeling the burn
A good tan was once the ultimate look, until research linked bronzed bodies with cancer and the beach look became uncool for generations. Now despite all the known risks, in a new era Australians are recklessly worshipping the sun. More than one in four young adults are getting sunburnt and rising numbers expose themselves to high levels of cancer-causing UV radiation with little protection. According to the Cancer Institute NSW's latest Sun Protection Behaviours Report, almost 26 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds reported being sunburnt in the previous four weeks, more than any older generation and significantly higher than the 14.8 per cent reporting sunburn overall. The survey of 11,297 adults in 2022 found that almost half of young adults reported frequent sun exposure (48.7 per cent versus 41.4 per cent in the overall population), and they were less likely to wear protective clothing, sun-safe hats and sunglasses. The Herald 's health editor Kate Aubusson reports social media has attracted new sunbathers, with influencers proudly displaying their tan lines and sunburnt skin. They also monitor UV ratings to time their sunbathing sessions for maximum UV exposure, and market apps that tailor tanning regimens powered by AI. The place of sunscreens once seemed obvious, but TikTok influencers somehow made SPF lose its shine. The finding last month by consumer advocacy group Choice that some of Australia's most popular sunscreens fell short of skin protection, with 16 of 20 products tested not meeting SPF claims on the packaging, has not helped either. Loading The 1981 Slip, Slop, Slap campaign was the start of many similar campaigns to combat skin cancer across the country. The initial campaign played a key role in the dramatic shift in sun protection attitudes and behaviour over several decades. Yet Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, with an estimated 169,000 cases diagnosed in 2024. More than 2000 Australians die of skin cancer every year. The stark statistic and the undeniable link to the sun and sunlamps seems to have evaded most young Australians. Nationally, Cancer Council research found nine in 10 Australians aged 18 to 30 intentionally or unintentionally sunbathe. Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows that 24 per cent of young women aged 15 to 24 were more likely to try to get a suntan than 15.3 per cent of young men from the same cohort.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
The sunburn generation: Why young people are risking cancer for tans
'There's also much more sensitivity to body image concerns around tanning than older age groups,' he said. TikTok trends show young women proudly displaying their tan lines and sunburnt skin. Influencers share their tanning routines, monitor UV ratings to time their sunbathing sessions for maximum UV exposure, and market apps that tailor tanning regimens powered by AI. Hannah English, a former pharmaceutical skincare scientist, author and digital creator, was not surprised by the results. 'The tan lines trend is horrifying,' said English, whose online content promotes correct sunscreen application and encourages her predominantly female following to adopt multiple forms of sun protection. 'You watch a tanning video on social media, and [the platform algorithm] shows you more of the same and it normalises it,' she said. Young men were particularly challenging to reach, English said. 'I'll get messages from women asking, 'How do I get my husband, boyfriend, brother, dad to wear sunscreen?' ' she said. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, with an estimated 169,000 cases diagnosed in 2024. More than 2000 Australians die of skin cancer every year. Grace Passfield has a photograph of the last time she breastfed her baby boy, Lucas. Two large bruises stain her chest and arm – the outward traces of stage 4 melanoma that had spread under her skin, through her organs, including her bones and brain. She started immunotherapy three days later. 'I was an absolute hysterical mess,' the mother-of-two said of the days following her diagnosis in 2021 when she was 33. The physiotherapist had encountered several stage 4 patients who had died in the course of her hospital and rehabilitation work. 'I thought, 'That's what was coming for me,' ' she said. Passfield recalls riding her bike in the middle of the day as a teenager, wearing a singlet top and no sunscreen. 'I got very badly burnt,' she said. 'I was better than most about wearing sunscreen, but there were a few incidents like that. 'When I got a bit older, there were the odd days when I'd forget to wear sunscreen or a hat or stay out for too long in the sun.' Passfield underwent immunotherapy over four years, enduring severe side effects. 'I've had two clear PET scans since my last dose in December,' she said. 'Statistically speaking, I'm probably going to be all right. 'But it's always on my mind. I will continue to have treatment and look fine, but I'm effectively living with a chronic disease and there's always the risk of recurrence.' Professor Tracey O'Brien, chief executive of Cancer Institute NSW, said: 'Even in winter, adopting sun protection behaviours is essential, particularly at high altitudes and on reflective surfaces such as snow or ice.'
The Age
2 days ago
- Health
- The Age
The sunburn generation: Why young people are risking cancer for tans
More than one in four young adults are getting sunburnt, and rising numbers are exposing themselves to high levels of cancer-causing UV radiation with little protection, as social media trends promote tan lines and sunbathing routines. Almost 26 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds reported being sunburnt in the previous four weeks, more than any older generation and significantly higher than the 14.8 per cent reporting sunburn overall, according to the Cancer Institute NSW's latest Sun Protection Behaviours Report. The survey of 11,297 adults in 2022 found that almost half of young adults reported frequent sun exposure (48.7 per cent versus 41.4 per cent in the overall population), and they were less likely to wear protective clothing, sun-safe hats and sunglasses. Meanwhile, roughly 70 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds are pro-tanning, said Matthew Warner-Smith, acting director of screening and prevention at the Cancer Institute NSW. 'An increasing number of young people have this misconception that fake tanning protects against sun exposure and sun burn; therefore, they don't need sunscreen … more than one-third in 2024/2025, up from 23 per cent the previous year,' Warner-Smith said. Loading Nationally, Cancer Council research found that nine in 10 Australians aged 18 to 30 intentionally or unintentionally sunbathe. Young women aged 15 to 24 (26 per cent) were more likely to try to get a suntan than young men (15.3 per cent), an analysis of ABS data showed. 'We can't underestimate the influence of social media,' Warner-Smith said. About 40 per cent of young people said people they follow on social media really influence them to get a sun tan, significantly higher than other age groups.
The Advertiser
05-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
'Please do the test': 55yo Rachel had a plum-sized tumour removed
Swansea's Rachel Rizk had a few unused and expired bowel cancer screening kits sitting in her cupboard. She ordered another one and put it on her dressing table. "I'd look at it every day and say I'll do that tomorrow," Ms Rizk said. "My biggest message is I want everyone to please do the test. Take the stigma away." Ms Rizk was diagnosed with bowel cancer at age 55, after seeing her doctor for erratic bowel movements. She had surgery in March. "I had to cancel a holiday to India. I had a holiday at John Hunter Hospital instead," she said. "They removed 15 centimetres of my bowel and a tumour the size of a plum. When they did the first colonoscopy, they couldn't get the camera through." When she was diagnosed, she said to her specialist, "With all due respect, are you sure you have the right person?" "I felt fit and fabulous. He took a second look at his screen and said 'Sorry, Rachel, it is you'." In the Hunter New England health district, only 42 per cent of people do the bowel screening test after receiving it in the mail. The district recorded 3804 bowel cancer cases from 2017 to 2021, and 1362 people died from the disease in that period. With June being Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, the NSW government is urging eligible people to take the screening test. Available to those aged 45 to 74, it's the easiest way to detect the early signs of bowel cancer. Health Minister Ryan Park said, "Unfortunately, Australia has one of the highest incidences of bowel cancer in the world". "It's the second biggest cancer killer in NSW," Mr Park said. "We have this free screening test that is quick, easy and very effective in detecting the early stages of bowel cancer, but we need more people to take part." NSW chief cancer officer Tracey O'Brien said, "Bowel cancer can be successfully treated if caught early". "People who do the test are almost twice as likely to have their cancer detected at the earliest stage," Professor O'Brien, of Cancer Institute NSW, said "Bowel cancer is not just an old person's disease." Ms Rizk initially thought she had IBS symptoms. After doing the screening test, she was diagnosed with stage two bowel cancer. "I went into fight mode. I wanted to get straight in and get it removed. "The hardest part was waiting to get the results to know what stage it was and what sort of treatment that would mean." She said John Hunter Hospital was "absolutely fantastic". Her surgeon removed 32 lymph nodes. "They all came back clear, so that was good news," she said. "Thankfully, I haven't had to have any chemo or radiation because they got it at stage two. But I did have a follow-up colonoscopy last week." People can reduce their risk of bowel cancer by eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, cereals and wholegrains, having a healthy weight and being physically active. It is recommended to do the at-home screening test every two years from the age of 45. Swansea's Rachel Rizk had a few unused and expired bowel cancer screening kits sitting in her cupboard. She ordered another one and put it on her dressing table. "I'd look at it every day and say I'll do that tomorrow," Ms Rizk said. "My biggest message is I want everyone to please do the test. Take the stigma away." Ms Rizk was diagnosed with bowel cancer at age 55, after seeing her doctor for erratic bowel movements. She had surgery in March. "I had to cancel a holiday to India. I had a holiday at John Hunter Hospital instead," she said. "They removed 15 centimetres of my bowel and a tumour the size of a plum. When they did the first colonoscopy, they couldn't get the camera through." When she was diagnosed, she said to her specialist, "With all due respect, are you sure you have the right person?" "I felt fit and fabulous. He took a second look at his screen and said 'Sorry, Rachel, it is you'." In the Hunter New England health district, only 42 per cent of people do the bowel screening test after receiving it in the mail. The district recorded 3804 bowel cancer cases from 2017 to 2021, and 1362 people died from the disease in that period. With June being Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, the NSW government is urging eligible people to take the screening test. Available to those aged 45 to 74, it's the easiest way to detect the early signs of bowel cancer. Health Minister Ryan Park said, "Unfortunately, Australia has one of the highest incidences of bowel cancer in the world". "It's the second biggest cancer killer in NSW," Mr Park said. "We have this free screening test that is quick, easy and very effective in detecting the early stages of bowel cancer, but we need more people to take part." NSW chief cancer officer Tracey O'Brien said, "Bowel cancer can be successfully treated if caught early". "People who do the test are almost twice as likely to have their cancer detected at the earliest stage," Professor O'Brien, of Cancer Institute NSW, said "Bowel cancer is not just an old person's disease." Ms Rizk initially thought she had IBS symptoms. After doing the screening test, she was diagnosed with stage two bowel cancer. "I went into fight mode. I wanted to get straight in and get it removed. "The hardest part was waiting to get the results to know what stage it was and what sort of treatment that would mean." She said John Hunter Hospital was "absolutely fantastic". Her surgeon removed 32 lymph nodes. "They all came back clear, so that was good news," she said. "Thankfully, I haven't had to have any chemo or radiation because they got it at stage two. But I did have a follow-up colonoscopy last week." People can reduce their risk of bowel cancer by eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, cereals and wholegrains, having a healthy weight and being physically active. It is recommended to do the at-home screening test every two years from the age of 45. Swansea's Rachel Rizk had a few unused and expired bowel cancer screening kits sitting in her cupboard. She ordered another one and put it on her dressing table. "I'd look at it every day and say I'll do that tomorrow," Ms Rizk said. "My biggest message is I want everyone to please do the test. Take the stigma away." Ms Rizk was diagnosed with bowel cancer at age 55, after seeing her doctor for erratic bowel movements. She had surgery in March. "I had to cancel a holiday to India. I had a holiday at John Hunter Hospital instead," she said. "They removed 15 centimetres of my bowel and a tumour the size of a plum. When they did the first colonoscopy, they couldn't get the camera through." When she was diagnosed, she said to her specialist, "With all due respect, are you sure you have the right person?" "I felt fit and fabulous. He took a second look at his screen and said 'Sorry, Rachel, it is you'." In the Hunter New England health district, only 42 per cent of people do the bowel screening test after receiving it in the mail. The district recorded 3804 bowel cancer cases from 2017 to 2021, and 1362 people died from the disease in that period. With June being Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, the NSW government is urging eligible people to take the screening test. Available to those aged 45 to 74, it's the easiest way to detect the early signs of bowel cancer. Health Minister Ryan Park said, "Unfortunately, Australia has one of the highest incidences of bowel cancer in the world". "It's the second biggest cancer killer in NSW," Mr Park said. "We have this free screening test that is quick, easy and very effective in detecting the early stages of bowel cancer, but we need more people to take part." NSW chief cancer officer Tracey O'Brien said, "Bowel cancer can be successfully treated if caught early". "People who do the test are almost twice as likely to have their cancer detected at the earliest stage," Professor O'Brien, of Cancer Institute NSW, said "Bowel cancer is not just an old person's disease." Ms Rizk initially thought she had IBS symptoms. After doing the screening test, she was diagnosed with stage two bowel cancer. "I went into fight mode. I wanted to get straight in and get it removed. "The hardest part was waiting to get the results to know what stage it was and what sort of treatment that would mean." She said John Hunter Hospital was "absolutely fantastic". Her surgeon removed 32 lymph nodes. "They all came back clear, so that was good news," she said. "Thankfully, I haven't had to have any chemo or radiation because they got it at stage two. But I did have a follow-up colonoscopy last week." People can reduce their risk of bowel cancer by eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, cereals and wholegrains, having a healthy weight and being physically active. It is recommended to do the at-home screening test every two years from the age of 45. Swansea's Rachel Rizk had a few unused and expired bowel cancer screening kits sitting in her cupboard. She ordered another one and put it on her dressing table. "I'd look at it every day and say I'll do that tomorrow," Ms Rizk said. "My biggest message is I want everyone to please do the test. Take the stigma away." Ms Rizk was diagnosed with bowel cancer at age 55, after seeing her doctor for erratic bowel movements. She had surgery in March. "I had to cancel a holiday to India. I had a holiday at John Hunter Hospital instead," she said. "They removed 15 centimetres of my bowel and a tumour the size of a plum. When they did the first colonoscopy, they couldn't get the camera through." When she was diagnosed, she said to her specialist, "With all due respect, are you sure you have the right person?" "I felt fit and fabulous. He took a second look at his screen and said 'Sorry, Rachel, it is you'." In the Hunter New England health district, only 42 per cent of people do the bowel screening test after receiving it in the mail. The district recorded 3804 bowel cancer cases from 2017 to 2021, and 1362 people died from the disease in that period. With June being Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, the NSW government is urging eligible people to take the screening test. Available to those aged 45 to 74, it's the easiest way to detect the early signs of bowel cancer. Health Minister Ryan Park said, "Unfortunately, Australia has one of the highest incidences of bowel cancer in the world". "It's the second biggest cancer killer in NSW," Mr Park said. "We have this free screening test that is quick, easy and very effective in detecting the early stages of bowel cancer, but we need more people to take part." NSW chief cancer officer Tracey O'Brien said, "Bowel cancer can be successfully treated if caught early". "People who do the test are almost twice as likely to have their cancer detected at the earliest stage," Professor O'Brien, of Cancer Institute NSW, said "Bowel cancer is not just an old person's disease." Ms Rizk initially thought she had IBS symptoms. After doing the screening test, she was diagnosed with stage two bowel cancer. "I went into fight mode. I wanted to get straight in and get it removed. "The hardest part was waiting to get the results to know what stage it was and what sort of treatment that would mean." She said John Hunter Hospital was "absolutely fantastic". Her surgeon removed 32 lymph nodes. "They all came back clear, so that was good news," she said. "Thankfully, I haven't had to have any chemo or radiation because they got it at stage two. But I did have a follow-up colonoscopy last week." People can reduce their risk of bowel cancer by eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, cereals and wholegrains, having a healthy weight and being physically active. It is recommended to do the at-home screening test every two years from the age of 45.
