Southern View: September 26, 2017

2
Tuesday
[Edition datE]
36 September 26 2017
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
SOUTHERN VIEW
Melanoma Deadlier
Than Road Fatalities
Summer is around the corner, and it brings with it the
temptation for some to “pre-tan” using artificial UV
tanning equipment; but is it really worth the risk?
More people die from melanoma
each year than are killed
annually in road crashes.
This statistic was part of
a comprehensive submission made to
parliament’s Health Select Committee which
is considering outlawing sunbeds for people
under the age of 18 years.
The submission was made by Accuro
Health Insurance, established in the 1970s as
a private insurer for the public health sector.
Today it trades as a private health insurer
with a widespread, general membership.
Accuro, in supporting the submission
made by the New Zealand Dermatological
Society, pointed to a New Zealand Cancer
Society figure of 324 deaths from melanoma
in 2010. According to the NZ Road Transport
Agency there were 253 road deaths for the 12
months to February 2014 and 303 for the 12
months to February 2015.
In highlighting the figure, CEO Geoff
Annals emphasised the serious nature of
the disease and his submission drew the
committee’s attention to the financial, social
and personal costs of skin cancer.
He quoted Cancer Society figures which
report that New Zealand, along with
Australia, has amongst the highest melanoma
rates in the world. In 2010 melanoma was
the fourth most common cancer with 2,341
registered cases and the sixth most common
cause of death from cancer.
The Cancer Society further reports that
skin cancer currently costs this country
about $123 million annually.
Geoff Annals says research by the Centre
for Disease Control showed the introduction
of seat belts reduced serious crash related
injuries and deaths by about half and banning
artificial UV tanning services is warranted
on the same public health grounds as the
compulsory seat belt legislation.
While Accuro’s submission related to a ban
for people under 18 years, it supports the
introduction of a total ban on commercial
artificial UV tanning.
“As a health insurer grounded in the public
health sector, we are strongly committed
to supporting the effectiveness of publicly
funded health services and better health
outcomes for all New Zealanders,” Geoff
Annals says.
A leading New Zealand dermatologist, Dr
Louise Reiche, who also made submissions
to the Health Select Committee, says she’s
treating many young people, especially
women in their 20s and 30s, with melanomas
resulting from commercial sunbed exposure.
She says clients typically lie naked on
their sunbeds and expose skin to radiation
emitted from UV lamps which can be up to
13 times greater than the peak summer sun.
She’s now treating people with cancer of the
genital skin which is more vulnerable to skin
cancer development.
“The medical profession is run off their
feet with people presenting themselves with
skin cancers causing the public health system
to be overwhelmed,” Dr Reiche says.
“The waiting list is three to four months
for urgent cases and, during the delay, the
cancers are growing. This results in poorer
health outcomes and more complex and
expensive procedures.”
Geoff Annals quoted Cancer
Society figures which report
that New Zealand, along
with Australia, has amongst
the highest melanoma
rates in the world. In 2010
melanoma was the fourth
most common cancer with
2,341 registered cases and
the sixth most common
cause of death from cancer.
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