Charlie Dimmock and Alan Titchmarsh are joining a host of horticultural organisations including the Garden Centres Association, Professional Gardeners Guild and National Allotment Society in supporting 'Watch Your Back!', a new health campaign urging men to review their sun protection habits.
Research from the National Cancer Intelligence Service has revealed that men over the age of 50 are at the highest risk of developing melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. In men, the disease appears typically on the back, head and neck, in areas hard to spot, contributing to a later diagnosis than in women, making their condition harder to treat.
The campaign, devised by the Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund features ‘The Gardeners Sun Safety Code’; a set of guidelines offering tips on sun protection, how and why to check skin for signs of change and what to look out for; including more common non-melanoma cancers such as basal and squamous cell carcinoma.
Charlie Dimmock said: "Gardening is a wonderful pastime and getting active outdoors is a positively healthy thing to do at any age, however we all need to be more aware of the dangers of the sun. Men especially can be reluctant when it comes to applying sunscreen, visiting their doctor or checking their skin for signs of change.
"With this attitude not only do we all risk melanoma, but all other sun related cancers".
Information will be available online and promoted via skin health clinics in a regional tour of garden centres from 30 April.
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