A boom in cheap package holidays in the 1960s is partly behind the "worrying rise" in skin cancers in pensioners, Cancer Research UK suggests. The charity says that although all ages are at risk, many older people would not have been aware of how to protect themselves four decades ago.
Figures show that 5,700 over-65s are diagnosed with the condition each year, compared to just 600 in the mid-1970s. The condition can often be prevented by covering up and avoiding sunburn.
Around 13,300 people are diagnosed with malignant melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer – each year in the UK. And 2,100 lives are lost to the disease annually. Numbers are increasing across all age groups but the steepest rise is seen in over-65s.
The charity said all ages are benefitting from public health messages explaining the dangers of holiday sun.