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RAFT – skin cancer
A Royal Society of Arts project.
The Restoration Of Appearance and Function Trust explain
their work on skin cancer prevention, treatment and safety to young people.
A pinknonsense production by
Grace Filby BA (Hons) Cert Ed FRSA
http://www.relax-well.co.uk
Grace is a Science & Engineering Ambassador for Surrey SATRO, an educational charity.
Text:
RAFTs scientists are working on the PREVENTION of melanoma, on therapeutic TREATMENT and on providing information for the public about SAFETY in the sun.
Skin cancer in the UK is on the increase. Almost every day of the year in the UK a woman between 20 and 29 is diagnosed with malignant melanoma the deadliest form of skin cancer. In this age range, there are twice as many cases of melanoma as there are of breast cancer. Malignant melanoma has now become the most common type of cancer for women in their 20s (CRUK figures).
Prevention
We are studying the different parts of sunlight – visible light, ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B that can trigger the onset of skin cancer. The team has uncovered a problem with current sunscreens which protect against burning from high UVB but give inadequate protection against free radical damage caused by UVA and visible light.
RAFT scientists are looking at how different skin types respond to this UVA and visible light. Dark skins are not necessarily safer from harm. The research has shown that melanin (the natural sunscreen produced during tanning) protects against damage when at the very high concentration found in Afro-Caribbean skin but when it is at lower concentrations it fails as a sunscreen. RAFT’s findings will reveal whether some people are more susceptible to skin cancer than others.
Treatment
The antioxidant system is the body’s natural defensive system against free radical damage. If this becomes unbalanced (as present in some cancers), one route to cancer therapy is to turn the cancer cells machinery against itself. A very well known antioxidant vitamin C appears to be more toxic to cancer cells than normal cells cultured in the laboratory. This is when it is given by intravenous injection at much higher levels than normally found in the body. Other antioxidants at high dose may also be effective at destroying cancer cells but not the normal cells.
Safety
As RAFTs groundbreaking research becomes more well known, young people will be able to make better informed decisions about safety in the sun. A good way to start is to keep your skin’s sun exposure to before 11am and after 3pm in the UK in summer months, and encourage your friends to do the same rather than take the risk of rushing a suntan and triggering deadly skin cancer.
http://www.raft.ac.uk
Music: artist Derek Paravicini
Over the rainbow
SETHCD092
copyright 2006
Echoes of the sounds to be
http://www.sonustech.com/paravicini/index.html
E.Himonides
Derek’s blog: http://derekparavicinisblog.blogspot.com/
Derek Paravicini: In the Key of Genius
by Adam Ockelford
and Music for Children and Young People
by Adam Ockelford
Photography courtesy http://www.philip.greenspun.com
HRH The Duchess of Kent is RAFT’s Chief Patron.
Duration : 0:6:30
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