The Swiss have the highest skin cancer rates in Europe and come third globally behind Australia and New Zealand, new figures show.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch
Excessive exposure to harmful UV rays is the main cause; both from the sun and tanning booths, according to a Federal Health Office study.
Every year there are 22 new cases of melanoma in Switzerland for every 100,000 people – a higher rate than in 40 other European countries. Cases of non-fatal melanoma skin cancer are higher: around 160 per 100,000 people.
Cases of melanoma have doubled in Switzerland in the past 20 years. Over the years Swiss have begun spending more time in the sun on weekends and during their holidays, the study notes.
The study showed that people are often not aware of the risks posed by artificial tanning in particular.
According to the study, nearly one in two Swiss women and one in four Swiss men have used sunbeds in the past. A tenth of the population – especially young people – regularly use tanning salons.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
How centuries of Swiss emigrants left their mark on the US
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Cancer blood test comes within reach
This content was published on
An interdisciplinary team has defined biomarkers in patients’ blood serum which indicate the presence of prostate cancer – the most common form of the disease among men in the western world. The method could be widened out to other tumours. The work, by the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ), the University Hospital Zurich…
This content was published on
Switzerland rolled out a programme in 2008 to vaccinate girls and young women aged 11 to 19 against the human papilloma virus, or HPV, which causes around 2,000 Swiss women to develop the early stages of cervical cancer every year. But at the start of 2010, just 36 per cent of the age group had…
This content was published on
Millions of people around the world are turning to skin-whitening products in their quest for the “perfect” fair complexion. Switzerland bans creams containing hydroxyquinone, a skin-bleaching chemical, but illegal products are still available. Skin lightening products are popular among African women, despite repeated health warnings. In some African countries skin-whitening has given rise to new…
This content was published on
Thomas Cerny says cases of the disease, already a leading cause of mortality – especially in the 45-64 age group – could double as the population ages. But lifestyle changes made now could prevent around 40 per cent of cancers. The professor of medical oncology at Bern University and head of oncology at St Gallen…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.