South West doctor urges people to wear sunscreen as skin cancer cases rise
Health experts are warning people to do more to protect themselves from the sun as the number of melanoma skin-cancer cases rise.
New analysis from charity Cancer Research has found rates have increased by almost a third over the past decade.
The cancer charity are predicting an all time high of more than 20,000 cases this year. But Cancer Research have said the vast majority of cases are preventable if people take the correct precautions in hot weather.
The rise in diagnoses is due partly to a growing ageing population and an increase in awareness of the signs of skin cancer.
Melanomas are a serious type of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body.
There are also non-melanoma skin cancers, which are generally more common and usually less serious than melanoma.
South West General Practitioner, Dr Glenda Beard, said: "Everyone is at risk of sunburn and skin cancer irrespective of your type of skin. I appreciate it can be hard to remember to put sun cream on, but the importance of sun cream is huge.
"There is a lot of skin cancer which could be prevented so by protecting yourself from the sun we can prevent nine out of ten of melanoma skin cancer diagnoses."