Cancer patients are encouraged to do more physical activity (PA). Exercising in outdoor settings, however, may expose people to UV radiation, which is the main risk factor of melanoma.

The objective of a new study published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship was to understand how melanoma diagnoses affect peoples perception of the outdoor environment for PA.

The present study entailed in-depth interviews among 19 individuals (20-85 years) with a history of melanoma at a skin cancer clinic in Denver metropolitan area. Transcribed interviews were coded for emergent themes. The coding framework included topics related to PA behavior, sun protection, and perceptions of outdoor environment.

The findings revealed that respondents reported no change in their level of outdoor activity after the melanoma diagnosis. However, they tried to reduce the risk of sun exposure by using sunscreen and sun-protective clothing. They also reported seeking shade, trees and groundcover along urban corridors to avoid sun exposure, reflective surfaces and heat while being active outdoors.

In inference, it was stated that given the public health significance of UV exposure and extreme heat, further investments should be made to craft streetscape design guidelines and implement sun-proof spaces across public facilities, including parks, schools and sport fields in order to ameliorate environmental risks for skin cancer survivors. Furthermore, skin cancer survivors and other vulnerable population subgroups will benefit from discussions around neighborhood-based design interventions that promote PA while accounting for sun safety.

Source: Journal of Cancer Survivorship. 2020 Jun 6. doi: 10.1007/s11764-020-00889-5.