More than a third of New Zealanders are three times more likely to develop melanoma, according to a latest research released on Sunday.
The findings came from a Trans-Tasman study, conducted by Mole Map and based on New York University Medical Center research.
The study has identified six key factors in helping predict the risk of developing the cancer. They include a history of blistering sunburns as a teenager, having red or blonde hair, and having had a summer job as a teenager which meant being outdoors for three or more years.
The researchers said New Zealander with just one of these risk factors increases the danger of developing melanoma by a third.
The one in five New Zealanders with at least three risk factors could be as much as 20 times more likely to develop melanoma.
The risk scale was created by Darrell Rigel, clinical Professor at New York University Medical Center, and presented to the American Academy of Dermatologists. The evidence from the study captured data from 600 individuals half of whom had a history of melanoma to determine which factors were most often linked with the development of melanoma.
Mole Map Dermatologist Mark Gray said the results reinforce New Zealanders need to be more vigilant when it comes to staying out of the sun.
"Every day we are confronted with melanoma cases which simply put are caused by human failure. Peoples failure to stay out of the sun, cover up or apply sunblock. There is no easy way to tell someone that they are going to die from a disease they could have prevented," he said.
Gray said the six new risk factors are not the only contributing causes of melanoma
A genetic predisposition for melanoma (as yet scientists have not been able to identify the gene responsible for causing melanoma), people with a large number of moles or "funny looking moles" and higher socio economic classes have all been linked to an increase incidence of melanoma, he added.
More than a third of New Zealanders are three times more likely to develop melanoma, according to a latest research released on Sunday.
The findings came from a Trans-Tasman study, conducted by Mole Map and based on New York University Medical Center research.
The study has identified six key factors in helping predict the risk of developing the cancer. They include a history of blistering sunburns as a teenager, having red or blonde hair, and having had a summer job as a teenager which meant being outdoors for three or more years.
The researchers said New Zealander with just one of these risk factors increases the danger of developing melanoma by a third.
The one in five New Zealanders with at least three risk factors could be as much as 20 times more likely to develop melanoma.
The risk scale was created by Darrell Rigel, clinical Professor at New York University Medical Center, and presented to the American Academy of Dermatologists. The evidence from the study captured data from 600 individuals half of whom had a history of melanoma to determine which factors were most often linked with the development of melanoma.
Mole Map Dermatologist Mark Gray said the results reinforce New Zealanders need to be more vigilant when it comes to staying out of the sun.
"Every day we are confronted with melanoma cases which simply put are caused by human failure. Peoples failure to stay out of the sun, cover up or apply sunblock. There is no easy way to tell someone that they are going to die from a disease they could have prevented," he said.
Gray said the six new risk factors are not the only contributing causes of melanoma
A genetic predisposition for melanoma (as yet scientists have not been able to identify the gene responsible for causing melanoma), people with a large number of moles or "funny looking moles" and higher socio economic classes have all been linked to an increase incidence of melanoma, he added.
More than a third of New Zealanders are three times more likely to develop melanoma, according to a latest research released on Sunday.
The findings came from a Trans-Tasman study, conducted by Mole Map and based on New York University Medical Center research.
The study has identified six key factors in helping predict the risk of developing the cancer. They include a history of blistering sunburns as a teenager, having red or blonde hair, and having had a summer job as a teenager which meant being outdoors for three or more years.
The researchers said New Zealander with just one of these risk factors increases the danger of developing melanoma by a third.
The one in five New Zealanders with at least three risk factors could be as much as 20 times more likely to develop melanoma.
The risk scale was created by Darrell Rigel, clinical Professor at New York University Medical Center, and presented to the American Academy of Dermatologists. The evidence from the study captured data from 600 individuals half of whom had a history of melanoma to determine which factors were most often linked with the development of melanoma.
Mole Map Dermatologist Mark Gray said the results reinforce New Zealanders need to be more vigilant when it comes to staying out of the sun.
"Every day we are confronted with melanoma cases which simply put are caused by human failure. Peoples failure to stay out of the sun, cover up or apply sunblock. There is no easy way to tell someone that they are going to die from a disease they could have prevented," he said.
Gray said the six new risk factors are not the only contributing causes of melanoma
A genetic predisposition for melanoma (as yet scientists have not been able to identify the gene responsible for causing melanoma), people with a large number of moles or "funny looking moles" and higher socio economic classes have all been linked to an increase incidence of melanoma, he added.
Source: Xinhua
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