Skin Cancer

(asked on 14th January 2016) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve prevention and diagnosis of (a) skin cancer and (b) melanoma.


Answered by
 Portrait
Jane Ellison
This question was answered on 20th January 2016

A number of voluntary and statutory organisations deliver health protection advice to the public about ultraviolet (UV) exposure. This includes NHS Choices at:


http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/skin/Pages/Sunsafe.aspx


Public Health England provides information to increase awareness of the public health risks of excessive exposure to UV radiation from the sun, and to encourage people at home and abroad (Mediterranean countries) to protect themselves as necessary. Since sunburn is a risk factor for skin cancer, messages are issued to warn when the United Kingdom solar UV Index values are higher than expected.


In 2011, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published guidance on ‘Skin Cancer Prevention’ in January 2011. The guidance will be partially updated within the development of new guidance on ‘Sun Exposure: benefits and risks’ due to be published by NICE in February 2016.


In June 2015, NICE published new cancer referral guideline for general practitioners (GPs), including guidance for GPs on investigating patients with signs suggestive of skin cancer (melanoma and non-melanoma). The guideline will continue to support GPs to identify patients with signs and symptoms of suspected cancer, including skin cancer and urgently refer them as appropriate.


NICE is currently developing a quality standard which will cover prevention, assessment, diagnosis and management of skin cancer (melanoma and non-melanoma) in children, young people and adults. The anticipated publication date for this quality standard is August 2016.



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