Spot cancer early.  Screening for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer could save your life. Screening programs are for people who do not have any cancer symptoms.

Learn your risk by completing a cancer risk assessment at My Cancer IQ. Then get your personalized action plan. The Time to Screen tool lets you find out when you should get a breast, colorectal or cervical cancer screening.

Outdoor activities are part of a healthy lifestyle, but there is a danger you can’t see – ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV is part of the spectrum of light that comes from the sun. Too much UV radiation damages skin and can cause skin cancer, eye cataracts and breaks down the immune system.

Skin damage adds up over a lifetime and is irreversible. Protect yourself from UV radiation:

• Check your skin once a month and report any changes to your health care provider
• Keep babies under age one out of direct sunlight and teach children how to be sun safe
• Don’t rely on the sun for vitamin D. In Canada, sunlight is not a reliable source of vitamin D for many months of the year. You can get vitamin D from some foods (e.g, fatty fish, egg yolks and fortified products such as cow’s milk or soy beverage).  It is recommended that people of certain ages  also take a vitamin D supplement. See the Nutrition for Different Ages and Stages for more information.
• Check the Environment Canada’s UV index before going out.  It tells you what you need to do to protect yourself
• Avoid direct sunlight between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
• Seek shade or make your own (trees, umbrellas)
• Cover up – wear long pants, long sleeves and a hat with a wide brim
• Wear sun glasses with UVA and UVB protection
• Wear sunscreen with SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 or higher
• There is no safe way to tan. Skin Cancer Prevention Act (Tanning Beds) bans the use of tanning beds by youth under age 18, makes requirements of tanning bed operators, sets fines and authorizes inspectors to enforce these requirements.

Check out these short videos, part of the “Enjoy the skin you’re in” campaign. They ask people to “think again” about indoor tanning. Epic Tan Fail, The Spot, Chicken Surprise, and Morphsuit Party.

Health Canada – Sun Safety

Canadian Cancer Society – Be Sun Safe

Canadian Dermatology Association – Sun Safety Every Day