Skin cancer awareness leaflets distributed

A batch of skin cancer awareness leaflets are being distributed via supermarkets in Scotland.

Cancer Research, a leading UK cancer charity, is distributing leaflets through supermarket giant Tesco in a bid to increase awareness of skin cancer. The leaflets specifically target middle-aged males – as there has been a rise in cases of the disease among this demographic over the last few decades.

The leaflets are being distributed by Tesco throughout Scotland and the supermarket chain is also working to raise money to help fund projects that look into ways of helping people to diagnose skin cancer early. One project is at Edinburgh University and it uses images to help people identify the signs of the disease. Professor Jonathan Rees is running the project. Rees spoke about this to The Rutherglen Reformer, which covers the Coatbridge region, saying:

“People’s idea of what skin cancer looks like is limited to three or four images that are widely used to promote awareness of the disease – but we don’t think this goes far enough with helping people identify the problem and going to their doctor. With support from Tesco, the team in Edinburgh are working to use the Internet and the potential it offers to access many images.”

There has been a positive response so far to the funding for projects and the sharing of information driven through flyer printing. Coatbridge and the rest of Scotland’s middle-aged men look set to benefit from a healthier future by heeding the advice printed on the leaflets.