Skin cancer who s at risk?

Transcription

1 Skin cancer who s at risk? Suggested year level Years 9 and 10 Prepare yourself (teacher) View the clip Dying for a tan and familiarise yourself with the ideas presented. Class resources Copy of the Stand up; Sit down activity below to complete with the students. Copies of quiz and blank tables. Estimated time required 1 period. The activity Conduct the Stand up; Sit down activity with the class to assess who in the class is at risk of skin cancer. Instructions Ask students to stand up. Read out the statements on page 2 and sit down if the statement applies to you. Remain seated for the duration of the activity. Award a prize to the last person standing who is the least at risk person in the group. Follow the activity with a debrief discussion see on page 2. 1 of 5

2 Sit down if You have lots of moles, irregular moles or large moles. You have freckles and burn before tanning. You have red, blonde or light brown hair and fair skin. You know you have skin that burns easily. You or any of your family members have had any form of skin cancer. You use or have used a solarium. You were born in Australia. You can recall getting a dose of sunburn. You spend part or all of your day outdoors from September to April. You regularly sun bake during summer. You don t check your skin for skin cancer regularly. You don t use sun protection. Discussion You will find most people sit down after three of four statements. The earlier participants sit down, the higher their level of skin cancer risk. Depending on how quickly the group sits down, use it as an opportunity to highlight that most people in Australia have risk factors associated with skin cancer. 1 Classify the statements from the Stand up; Sit down activity into either physical characteristics or behavioural patterns that place people at risk of skin cancer. Physical characteristics Behavioural patterns 2 of 5

3 2 What is the difference between the physical characteristics and behavioural patterns that place people at risk of skin cancer? 3 Before viewing the clip, Dying for a tan, complete the following / quiz to gauge your understanding of skin cancer. a) If you tan without burning, you are still at risk of skin cancer. b) Dark skinned people cannot get skin cancer. c) Sun protection is not required on cloudy days. d) The following are all risk factors for skin cancer: fair skin, having a relative with skin cancer and numerous moles. e) A little change in skin colour without actively tanning is healthy. f) Skin cancer only affects older people. 3 of 5

4 4 View the clip Dying for a tan and complete the following table. Melanoma risk factors identified in the clip. Prevention measures to reduce the risk of developing melanoma as suggested in the clip. What were the confronting concerns/ comments you observed in the clip? Personal messages you gained from watching the clip. 4 of 5

5 Teacher assessment advice Suggested responses to quiz. a) If you tan without burning, you are still at risk of skin cancer. 4 Tanning is a sign your skin cells are in trauma and the more your skin is exposed to UV radiation, the greater your risk of skin cancer. b) Dark skinned people cannot get skin cancer. 4 Skin cancers are relatively rare in people with naturally very dark skin but those that do occur are often detected at a later, more dangerous stage. c) Sun protection is not required on cloudy days. 4 UV radiation from the sun is invisible and cannot be seen or felt. Levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun change throughout the day, every day, each month, each season, each year, across Australia. UV levels can still be high on cloudy days and therefore it is important to know the daily UV level to determine if sun protection is required. d) The following are all risk factors for skin cancer: fair skin, having a relative with skin cancer and numerous moles. 4 e) A little change in skin colour without actively tanning is healthy. 4 There is no such thing as a safe tan whether from the sun or a solarium. f) Skin cancer only affects older people. 4 Melanoma is the most common cancer in young Australians aged years. 5 of 5