Predicting Global Ultraviolet Levels, a Bright Idea in the Fight Against Skin Cancer.

Nov. 16, 2011 - PRLog -- Next year in the United States about 1,000,000 people will be diagnosed with a skin cancer called Basal Cell Carcinoma, in the UK it will be about 80,000, in Canada 60,000, and in Australia (the highest rate per population of skin cancer in the world) there will be about 300,000 new cases.

Basal cell carcinoma (or BCC as it is commonly called) is the most common type of cancer in the world, and is most common in fair skinned people with blond or red hair and blue eyes. Fortunately, basal cell carcinoma is relatively straightforward to treat and rarely fatal.  It can be treated with topical creams, cryotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery, but recent research from Holland shows that almost 30% of patients diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma will develop one or more basal cell carcinomas within 5 years.  

So what causes the world's most common cancer? The sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation is considered one of the main causes of basal cell carcinoma, but unless you are completely nocturnal it is impossible to avoid.  So what about preventative measures? There is  some evidence that drinking three or more cups of coffee a day can reduce the chances of being diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, but sunscreen is considered one of the most effective barriers to ultraviolet radiation.  Ultraviolet levels can vary depending on where you are, the time of day, and the amount of cloud cover.  So what is the ultraviolet level where you are at the moment, today, tomorrow or the next day, or where you are going on vacation?

There are some organizations around the world that provide this information, in the US there is the Environmental Protection Agency, and in the UK the Met Office, but now there is a onestop resource that gives you a five day forecast of ultraviolet radiation levels wherever you are in the world. The resource was developed by Wolfram Alpha LLC in Champaign, IL and you can find the application on the 'Resources & Links' page at: http://www.BasalCellCarcinoma.info  an informational website about basal cell carcinoma.

And if you think you can escape to a cold climate to avoid basal cell carcinoma, think again. It's not the sun's heat that does the damage, it's the invisible ultraviolet radiation, and anyway, snow can reflect up to 85% of the sun's ultraviolet light.

Consult the Global UV Index at http://www.BasalCellCarcinoma.info; it could just save your skin!

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An information website about Basal Cell Carcinoma skin cancer that includes pictures, photos, and a video about treatment.