Sunburnt farmers at greater risk of melanoma

More than three-quarters of UK farmers report experiencing sunburn each year, according to new data published by Melanoma Focus, highlighting growing skin cancer risks in rural communities.

A survey released by the charity found that 77% of UK agricultural workers get sunburnt at least once a year, with 76% saying they were sunburnt as children or teenagers.

Despite spending most of their working day outdoors, more than half (52%) of respondents said they rarely or never wear sunscreen between May and September.

See also: Farmworkers advised to cover up as temperatures soar

When asked why they don’t apply sunscreen regularly, 33% said they simply forget, while 25% said they don’t expect to burn. More than a third also said they rarely or never cover their skin with clothing or a sunhat during the summer.

Fifth most common cancer

Melanoma is the UK’s fifth most common cancer, with around 17,500 new cases each year.

Research shows that experiencing five or more sunburns more than doubles the risk of developing melanoma. One severe sunburn during childhood or adolescence also significantly increases lifetime risk.

Susanna Daniels, chief executive of Melanoma Focus, said: “Agricultural workers are frequently exposed to harmful UV rays because of the nature of their work and it’s alarming to see that many of these individuals are experiencing sunburn, which significantly increases their risk of developing melanoma – a deadly form of skin cancer.”

Stephanie Berkeley, manager at the Farm Safety Foundation, added: “Despite the well-established (and continuously growing) body of evidence linking sun exposure and skin cancer, there are many farmers out there who are still regularly suffering from sunburn.”

Richard Harvey, an 80-year-old farmer from Rutland, was diagnosed with melanoma in 2018.

He said: “I’ve never been one to spend hours on a beach sunbathing so it was a surprise to be diagnosed with melanoma… I used to take my shirt off for 30 minutes to an hour on sunny days and I did occasionally burn, but not what you’d call severely.”

Melanoma Focus advises all outdoor workers to wear sunscreen, cover up, and regularly check their skin to help prevent melanoma cases, 86% of which are deemed avoidable.

Raising cancer awareness

The Rural Communities Project, a partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support and the Farming Community Network, also aims to raise cancer awareness in rural UK areas.

It addresses specific challenges such as limited access to care, higher exposure to cancer risks such as harmful substances, and poor health outcomes linked to deprivation and isolation.

Macmillan reports that rural residents are 5% less likely to survive a cancer diagnosis compared to those in urban areas.