Artificial tanning in New South Wales will be restricted

William Atkins
Friday, 11 April 2008 20:02

Science - Health

Melanoma, the cancer that killed 26-year-old anti-solarium activist Clare Oliver, is a malignant form of cancer that usually occurs in the skin but can also occur in the bowel and the eyes.

It causes about 75% of all skin cancer deaths. Melanoma comes about when pigment cells, called melanocytes, begin to grow uncontrollably.

Melanocytes are the cells that produce the tanning effect in humans when exposed to sunlight.

Each year about 160,000 new cases of melanoma occur around the world. It is most common in fair skinned people who live in sunny climates.

The World Health Organization estimates that about 48,000 people die each year from melanoma related deaths.

The Clare Oliver Melanoma Fund was created to the memory of Oliver and to fight melanoma.

According to the website, “The Clare Oliver Melanoma Fund has been established to honour the courage and bravery of Clare Oliver. 100% of proceeds from the fund will be directed to Melanoma research, focusing on research collaborations between leading melanoma research and treatment centres.”

Please research solariums before attempting to use one. If you decide to use one, at least be informed at to what you are exposing your body to when the UV light is turned on.