A recent survey commissioned by the Melanoma Network of Canada suggests that women are three times more likely than men to protect their skin in the winter.
According to the survey, only four per cent of men use sunscreen during the winter months. Furthermore, melanoma is the second most common cancer in people between the ages of 18 and 34 and cases have tripled over the last 30 years.
Canadian Olympic ski cross athlete Julia Murray knows the dangers of not protecting her skin in the winter. Murray lost her father Dave, an Olympic athlete, to melanoma when she was very young.
"My father passed away when he was 37 years old," she said. "That alone makes me want to be involved and make people aware about the cancer and just how dangerous it is."
The Melanoma Network estimates that 5,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with melanoma this year and 950 will die from it.
Murray, a West Vancouver and Whistler resident, said she wears sunscreen year round and uses it even when she is competing.
"I put sunscreen on every morning, I make it a routine," Murray said. "Sometimes we get sunscreen at races and I try to tell people to wear it as much as possible."
Dr. Jason Rivers, professor of dermatology at the University of British Columbia, says people need to wear sunscreen and protect themselves even if they are spending time in the mountains.
"For every 1,000 feet you go up in altitude you get about 12 per cent more ultraviolet radiation," he said. "If you can imagine you are at the top of Whistler, it's a sunny day and you are spring skiing and you take off your jacket or shirt you can get burnt very quickly. Clothing is very important."
Unlike other cancers, melanoma can be detected at an early age in people. The survival rate is high if detected early.
"Melanoma can have its appearance early in life; that's why it's very common relative to other cancers in the younger age groups," Rivers said.
Rivers added that snow reflects as much as 80 per cent of ultraviolet radiation, while dry sand only reflects 15 per cent.
Murray has been involved with the Melanoma Network of Canada since 2010. She is also involved with the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund, another melanoma foundation.
"I try to let people know what I am doing with the Melanoma Network of Canada," she said. "We need to make people care about it."
More information is available at www. melanomanetwork.ca.
