The report published today by The Sunsense for Life Panel, an independent expert panel of doctors, nurses and pharmacists with a special interest in skin cancer, overturns current thinking that an SPF of 15+ is sufficient.

The Sunsense Panel's Gillian Godsell, a skin cancer nurse specialist at University Hospital Nottingham warns: "Sunburn in childhood can double the risk of skin cancer, causing deep-seated damage that only becomes apparent years later as skin cancer can take years to develop. Children who are overly exposed to the sun now are storing up problems for the future and it is essential to teach appropriate sun protection habits in childhood if we are to reduce the incidence of skin cancer later in life."

Money around
LOOKING for a fun day out whilst donating money to a charity at the same time, then why not take part in the NCT Cheeky Monkeys Tea Party 2008?

The NCT charity provides classes, counselling, information and support to over a million expectant and new parents each year.

Throughout May, hundreds of branches and many local nurseries will be hosting a tea party and supporters are being asked to get involved.

Visit: www.nct.org.uk/cheekymonkeys to find out more.

Cancer chances
FEAR of hereditary cancer is often overestimated according to a survey by Cancerbackup, which has now merged with Macmillan Cancer Support.

The survey found that as many as nine out of ten people overestimate their risk of inherited cancers when someone in their family has had cancer, and 60 per cent of people think that family history is the biggest risk factor for cancer.

With so many people unnecessarily concerned about their possibility of getting inherited breast or ovarian cancer, Macmillan has launched OPERA (Online Personal Education and Risk Assessment) - the first online interactive software program which gives personalised information of a person's risk of inherited breast and ovarian cancer .See www.macmillan.org.uk/genetics
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