Thread: Beards?

Yes, that sounds right. It's why hats are compulsory at school now under 'duty of care' rules. I have a form of benign skin cancer on my head now from not wearing a hat when younger.

... From NOT wearing a hat (always) in the sun ? - or from sunburn at that age? I can recall being burnt on sides & back of neck...

Old GP told me that the number and severity of childhood sunburns was more significant for later cancers than moderate - non burning - exposure.
I can't give a valid opinion, having being seriously burned a few times in early life yet at 66 yo. have no skin cancers.
Yet.

From not wearing a hat resulting in sunburnt ears as a child.

And correct, melanoma is mostly related to severe sunburn in childhood. This does not apply to other skin cancers, which are mostly dependent on lifetime sun (or other UV) exposure. But left out is the unspoken factor - the biggest factor in almost all cancers, including skin cancer, is your choice of parents!

Originally Posted by JDNSW

is your choice of parents!

You're kidding, aren't you? Who's ever had that choice?

And who would've made that choice? Ya mates' parents were always cooler than ya own.

Originally Posted by Saitch

You're kidding, aren't you? Who's ever had that choice?

Call it an attempt at humour in stating an unavoidable fact. It isn't your choice, but it is a factor that has been selected by the choices made by your ancestors for generations, although these choices were all made in ignorance that they were increasing or decreasing their cancer risk. Although perhaps it should be pointed out that in retrospect the preference of northern Europeans for fair skinned partners after migrating to sunny areas seems to have been setting up their descendants to make Australia the world's skin cancer capital. From a skin cancer point of view for their children they would have been a lot better to marry the dark skinned locals!

In particular, with redheads known to be at particular risk for melanoma for at least the last couple of generations, the preference of some Australians for redheaded partners is puzzling.

Yeah, they don't even look attractive hanging on the wall either.






[Ducks behind revetment mound & awaits incoming]