Children and Beach Vacations Lead to Cancer Concerns

A new scientific paper published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, shows that vacationing at the shore led to a 5 percent increase in nevi (more commonly called “moles”) among 7-year-old children. Because the number of nevi is the major risk factor for malignant melanoma, this has some doctors concerned that rates of melanoma will be affected.

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Melanoma rates have been rising dramatically over recent decades. More than 62,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma each year and more than 8,000 die.

Lead author Lori Crane, Ph.D., M.P.H., chair of the Department of Community and Behavioral Health at the Colorado School of Public Health, conducted this study among children who lived in Colorado, but the findings are "applicable worldwide" according to her. “Parents of young children need to be cautious about taking their kids on vacations that are going to be sun-intensive at waterside locations, where people are outside for whole days at a time in skin-exposing swimsuits,” said Crane.

The biggest issue is that parents often mistakenly believe that sunscreen is a cure-all. Although it does offer some protection, the likelihood is that children stay out in the sun longer, thus increasing their risk. Sunscreen just taps the surface.

“We recommend that, for young children, parents keep the kids involved in indoor activities from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to decrease risk, or if they are to be outside, that they wear shirts with sleeves,” said Crane.

Crane and colleagues examined 681 white children born in 1998 who were lifetime residents of Colorado. Vacation histories were assessed by interview and skin exams were used to evaluate the development of nevi.

Researchers observed that each waterside vacation one or more years prior to the exam at age 7 was linked to a 5 percent increase in nevi, or skin moles, less than two mm. “Daily sun exposure at home did not seem to be related to the number of moles, while waterside vacations were. Vacations may impart some unique risk for melanoma,” said Crane.

Dave