Skin cancer taught me to always use SPF50 sunscreen ...and wear a hat

Grandmother is first patient to join national medical study

- By Chris Riches

A GRAN of six has urged people to use high-protection SPF50 sun tan lotion as she embarks on a new clinical trial of a treatment that could defeat a form of skin cancer.

Pauline Short, 76, is the first patient in the new SCC-AFTER study at The Christie hospital in Manchester. It is investigating whether adding radiotherapy after surgery can cut the probability of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) returning. SCC is the second most common form of non-melanoma skin cancer and at least 50,000 cases are diagnosed in the UK every year — an annual rise of 5%.