May is World Melanoma Month, a time to raise awareness of our nation’s most common cancer – skin cancer. Here in Australia, we have one of the highest rates of skin cancer, and the highest rates of melanoma in the world, and about two in three of us will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before the age of 70.
Fortunately, skin cancer is preventable. Nearly all skin cancers are caused by UV radiation; this means, that when you protect your skin from the sun’s UV radiation you reduce your risk. The good news is it’s also never too late to start! Every day you protect your skin, you reduce your risk. Here’s some tips to prioritise sun protection while out on the course:
Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide!
Sun protection is needed whenever UV is three or above regardless of the time of day or time of year. In NSW, the UV is high enough to damage your skin for over 10 months of the year, so make sun protection part of your routine every time you’re heading out on the course. SLIP on sun sleeves or a long-sleeved shirt, SLOP on sunscreen, SLAP on a broad brimmed hat, SEEK shade where possible or take a golf umbrella so you can create shade anywhere and SLIDE on sunglasses.
Improve your long game
Improve your long game is Cancer Council NSW’s free sun protection program, targeting male golfers aged 40+ in NSW golf clubs. The program aims to improve sun protection behaviours of golfers by providing free sunscreen at the 1st and 10th tee, information and resources to help reduce skin cancer risk.
Thanks to the support of all those that participated in The Longest Day as well as Golf NSW, the program in NSW increased by 70% in the past two years with 196 golf clubs protecting their members from skin cancer.
For more information on Improve your long game click here: https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-prevention/sun-protection/golf/
Download the SunSmart app
If you’re heading out on the course and want to be aware of the UV rating, download Cancer Council’s free SunSmart app which takes away the guesswork by telling you when the UV is three and above with sun protection recommended for your location.
