Molewatch Clinic 2009

l-r Rob Wilson MP, Sian James MP, Richard Younger-Ross MP
Cancer Research UK held its annual Molewatch Clinic in Westminster on 10th June. The Molewatch Clinic offers MPs, Lords and parliamentary staff the opportunity to have their skin checked by dermatologists and specialist nurses. Run in conjunction with the Health, Safety and Wellbeing service at the Houses of Parliament, the Clinic aims to raise awareness about being SunSmart in the summer sun. Attendees were shown how to understand their skin type and to become more aware of the kind of skin changes they should look out for.

146 people visited the Clinic including 53 MPs, who had their photograph taken with “Molly the Mole” to highlight the importance of being SunSmart through their local media. The key message this year was “Don’t let sunburn catch you out!”

The event highlighted the particular risk sunburn poses to young people. Malignant melanoma - the most serious form of skin cancer - is now the most common cancer in women in their 20s*. Overall the disease kills around 2,000 people every year but rates are predicted to rise. MPs were urged to share their findings with their constituents that getting a painful sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of this most dangerous form of skin cancer.**