Sun-Protection Behaviors of Melanoma Survivors
January 2012
in “
Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology
”
TLDR Melanoma survivors are more likely to use sunscreen and seek shade than others, but less than half often use sunscreen and avoid the sun, and some still use tanning beds.
In a study examining sun-protection behaviors among melanoma survivors, researchers analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) and identified 156 melanoma survivors from the 2005 and 2007 HINTS respondents, with 11,408 cancer-free control subjects. The study found that melanoma survivors had higher odds of using sunscreen and seeking shade compared to control subjects, with adjusted odds ratios of 2.02 and 1.51, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in wearing protective clothing between the two groups. Despite the increased use of sunscreen and shade, less than 50% of melanoma survivors reported frequent sunscreen use and sun avoidance, which is concerning given their high risk for new skin cancers. Notably, 10 melanoma survivors reported using tanning beds after their diagnosis. The findings suggest a need for continued health promotion education to encourage sun-protection behaviors and discourage tanning bed use among melanoma survivors.
