Beach Vacations May Increase Youngsters' Risk of Cancer

February 3, 2009 -- TUESDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Vacations at the shore during childhood may boost the risk of the deadly skin cancer melanoma later in life, a new study suggests.

Researchers from Denver evaluated 681 children born in 1998 in Colorado, asking their parents about childhood vacation destinations and then conducting skin exams when the children were age 7 to look for nevi -- commonly known as moles. These moles are a risk factor for developing malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

"Moles went up 5 percent for every vacation they took [beginning at age 1 year]," said study senior author Lori Crane, an associate professor and chairwoman of community and behavioral health at the Colorado School of Public Health.

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be about 62,500 new cases of melanoma in 2008, and about 8,400 deaths.

Crane said that, while daily sun exposure at home wasn't found to be related to the number of moles that developed on the children, there was a link to the number of vacations by the water. And the moles seemed to increase despite sunscreen use. "Ninety percent said they used sunscreen most or all of the time," she said.

Crane, like other experts, said parents often believe sunscreen is a safeguard against skin cancer. While sunscreen does offer some protection, children who wear it may stay out in the sun longer -- long after the protection from the sunscreen has subsided, she said.

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Another skin cancer expert said the new study confirms what many dermatologists have long known -- that increased sun exposure, especially intermittent exposure in childhood, increases the risk of melanoma later in life.

While other skin cancers, such as squamous cell, are linked to cumulative sun exposure, "for melanoma, the story is a little more muddled," said Dr. Clifford Perlis, director of MOHS and dermatologic surgery at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. "It's not always linked to cumulative exposure, but to intermittent. The reasons are not clear."