On more than one occasion I've triumphantly risen from my chair, convinced I have finally conquered this writing lark, after finishing this 750-word column in one sitting and in record time.
I pass my work of genius onto my wife who checks I've managed to include a rudimentary level of punctuation, only for my heart to sink when she says, 'You know you've written about this before'. To avert such disasters, this is why I now keep a database of all my columns.
Only one subject has broken through my repetition rule and that's the danger of skin cancer. Having checked my database, I've mentioned it previously in May 2018, June 2021 and Apr 2022, and I make no apology for doing so.
Hopefully I'm the last generation who remembers as a child being told by adults, 'Get inside out of the sun, you're beginning to peel'.
As we now seem to break temperature records on an annual basis, I remind you once again that while a suntan will fade, a melanoma won't. Each year, the number of malignant melanomas in NI has increased, from a few dozen in the 1980s to almost 300 in recent times.
The probable culprit for this hike is a combination of warmer summers and our addiction to sunbeds. Each day, people voluntarily put themselves in mortal danger for a tan which will disappear in a matter of weeks.
Even if they're lucky enough to miss out on cancer, the skin damage done ages them well beyond their calendar years.
The statistics regarding sunbeds are horrific, with experts warning just one session increases your chances of developing a melanoma by 20 per cent. Worse, if you use them before the age of 35, your likelihood of developing skin cancer jumps by 60 per cent.
With smoking now commonly acknowledged by society as a major cancer precursor, hopefully sunbeds will soon follow.
As one of their ambassadors, I was happy to accept an invitation last week to attend a policy launch by Cancer Focus NI (CFNI) who unveiled an ambitious new campaign costing millions to create five standalone therapy support centres.
With changes to regional healthcare such as the moving emergency general surgery from Daisy Hill in Newry, and the closure of the maternity unit at Causeway Hospital, it seems right that the charity moves in this direction by enhancing therapeutic support and provision and health improvement in rural areas.
By opening five purpose-built support centres, cancer patients in rural areas will no longer have to endure arduous journeys to access the services provided by CFNI, and in this way, the charity bucks the trend of health provision being centralised in urban locations.
Explaining the decision, CFNI chief executive Richard Spratt said: "Our charity will rejuvenate its current patient-centred care approach by bringing together existing specialist cancer support services currently operating in local communities under a series of fit-for-purpose regional centres."
While its new plan is undoubtedly admirable, the charity also promotes cancer prevention. Changes to our diet, lifestyle and habits may all have a profound effect on our likelihood of developing certain forms of cancer.
So, with that in mind, follow these tips from CFNI to protect yourself when out and about over what remains of our summer:
- Choose a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher, and with 4 or 5 stars.
- Apply the sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and immediately after swimming, sweating or towel drying.
- Protect your skin with clothing – especially important for us gingers – and wear a hat that protects your face, neck, and ears.
- Wear 100 per cent UV protection sunglasses to protect your eyes and spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm when UV rays are at their strongest.
- Always keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight.
- And don't forget to protect sunscreen-missed spots such as eyelids, back of knees, ears, tops of feet, sides of face, hands, scalp and lips.
None of this is meant to scare or keep you from enjoying what is the rare appearance of the sun in these parts; rather, I hope I have reminded you of its dangers.
As for me, I'll be walking as often as able, and you'll be pleased to hear with as little bare skin on view as possible. Did I hear someone cry, 'That's a pity'? Nope, didn't think so...
If you'd like to donate and help the essential work of Cancer Focus NI, you can do so at cancerfocusni.org
