The UK recorded its hottest ever temperature of 40.2C last month as climate scientists stressed the heat wave was not a one-off and high temperatures were likely to become more frequent. Now doctors are warning that the changing climate will cast a long shadow if people spend more time in the sun and have more exposure to UV radiation. “As a clinician who treats patients with melanoma, I am certainly concerned that a continued trend towards warmer summers will lead to more melanoma cases and more melanoma deaths,” said Sarah Danson, professor of medical oncology at the University of Sheffield. Julia Newton-Bishop, a clinical scientist who leads the melanoma research team at the University of Leeds, said: “Melanoma is essentially caused by sunburn and this weather is so extreme that I worry that sunburn will increase and later the incidence occurrence of melanoma. According to figures from Cancer Research UK, death rates from skin cancer among men in the UK have more than tripled since the 1970s, with increases also being recorded among women. It is believed the rise may be down to a number of factors, including greater sun exposure due to package holidays, with Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, warning that sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk skin cancer. . Professor Dann Mitchell, a climate science expert from the University of Bristol, noted that the link between warmer weather and health may be indirect. “One of the clearest signs of climate change is warmer temperatures, not just in the summer, but year-round,” he said. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “This change in temperatures is also changing behavior patterns and people in the UK tend to go out more when the temperatures are warm. This leads to more exposure to sunlight throughout the year and much more exposure to the UV portion of that sunlight, which is a known risk factor for skin cancer.” Mitchell added that the long-term health consequences of the climate crisis were not discussed enough. “This is because we cannot say that a particular heat wave caused a particular cancer. “We’re probably linking the increased risk of cancer to the incorporation of many warmer days, with those warmer days made more likely by human-induced climate change,” he said, adding that more research is needed in the area. Karis Betts, senior director of health information at Cancer Research UK, said it was too early to know the impact of recent heatwaves on skin cancer cases, as the cancer usually takes many years to develop. But he added: “It’s important to remember that it’s the sun’s UV rays, not the heat, that cause sunburn and skin cancer. The sun can be strong enough to burn from mid-March to mid-October here in the UK, heatwave or not.’ Danson said there are some steps that could be taken to reduce sun exposure and prevent sunburn, such as avoiding the sun completely after 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., sitting in the shade, covering up with shirts and hats, and applying and reapplying sunscreen. “Anyone concerned about a new or changing nevus should seek advice from their GP straight away as early diagnosis is very important and we have treatments available,” he said.
