title: Melanoma attributable to sunbed use and tan seeking behaviours: an Italian survey.
abstract: Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer and its incidence is increasing worldwide. In 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified the entire UV spectrum as carcinogenic. In many countries, including Italy, the use of tanning equipment by minors and individuals with high risk phenotypes has been banned. This study assessed tan-seeking behaviour in a Mediterranean population with a relatively high melanoma incidence, where a considerable time is spent tanning outdoors. Subjects spending the most time in the sun were typically young single men, who use significantly less sunscreen and sunglasses. The overall prevalence of sunbed use was 22% in youth (≤35 years old) and 18% of them used sunbeds throughout the year. Sunbed use in youth was greater for phenotypes at risk. In Italy, 3.8% of melanoma cases are attributable to sunbed use, more in women (4.2% vs 3.1%, for women and men respectively) and much more in the young (17%). Of 8013 new melanoma cases in 2008 in Italy, 293 were attributable to sunbed use, with a high proportion of these in women (168) and 1045 were attributable to sun exposure. Among youth, 172 cases were attributable to sunbed use and 140 exclusively to sunbed use. This analysis reveals that a large number of cancers each year in Italy could be avoided by changing cultural attitudes to tanning. Sun avoidance and protection is generally inadequate in adults, especially young men. These results have important implications for the primary prevention of melanoma.
authors: Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Gandini
authors: Skin Cancer Unit IRCCS IRST, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Meldola (FC), Italy.
authors: Ignazio
authors: I
authors: Stanganelli
authors: Skin Cancer Unit IRCCS IRST, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Meldola (FC), Italy.
authors: Serena
authors: S
authors: Magi
authors: Skin Cancer Unit IRCCS IRST, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Meldola (FC), Italy.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Mazzoni
authors: Skin Cancer Unit IRCCS IRST, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Meldola (FC), Italy.
authors: Matelda
authors: M
authors: Medri
authors: Centro di Studi Avanzati sull'Umanizzazione, delle Cure e sulla Salute Sociale University of Bologna, Italy.
authors: Veronica
authors: V
authors: Agnoletti
authors: Centro di Studi Avanzati sull'Umanizzazione, delle Cure e sulla Salute Sociale University of Bologna, Italy.
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Lombi
authors: Tumour Registry Romagna IRCCS IRST, Meldola FC, Italy.
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Falcini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D005135:Eye Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D055108:Sunbathing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents
keywords: attributable fraction; melanoma; sun exposure; sunbed; sunscreen