International Cancer Day: 4 February 2006

"No tan is a safe tan - it is a sign of skin damage. Teach your kids to be "sun smart" as part of their lifestyle in order to drastically minimise their risk of skin cancer at an older age," Uys said today after a visit to the radiation oncology department at Groote Schuur Hospital. The aim of this year's theme, "Today's children, tomorrow's world" is to scale up awareness of what we can do to prevent cancer and change the behaviour of people, starting at a young age.

Apart from being "sun smart", the campaign also focuses on cancers that can be prevented through providing a smoke-free environment for children (no smoking in homes), encouraging healthy nutrition and promoting regular physical exercise, and knowing the facts about vaccination and early detection. Failure to adhere to these four principles causes cancer to claim about seven million lives worldwide every year - twice as much as Aids.

Minister Uys said parents and teachers have a key role in influencing healthy habits in children, understanding the long-term benefits of a healthy lifestyle, and to engage them in preventative actions at an early age. "Enjoy the great outdoor lifestyle that we are privileged to have in the Western Cape, but remember to take precautions against the harsh African sun," Uys said. He said skin cancer is the most preventable of all cancers, and gave the following advice to parents and adults:
- Keep your children out of the sun between 11:00 and 15:00.
- Use sunblock with at least a 15 factor.
- Ensure that they wear a hat, shirt and sunglasses.

Uys said the development of healthy habits early in life has a significant impact in later years. The environment in which children grow up at home, school or within their community has a powerful impact on their later behaviour, whether this regards tobacco use and exposure as a passive smoker, diet and physical activity, or smart behaviour in the sun. Minister Uys stresses that lung cancer is almost entirely preventable if parents don't expose their children to cancer - causing tobacco smoke.

Through the Western Cape Hepatitis B Virus ( HBV ) vaccination programme at an early age, our adults are also protected against cancer of the liver. Parents must make sure their chidren are immunised according to the programmes that are available at all our clinics. "There is no better investment in your children than to teach them healthy habits. Even though the long-term benefits cannot be measured in monetary terms, your children will be eternally grateful," Uys concluded.

Issued by:
The Directorate Communications
Office of the Superintendent of Health, Western Cape
Tel: 021 483 3235
Herman van der Westhuizen
Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of Health
Tel: 021 483 2627