Survivor urges sun safety | Northland News | Local News in Northland

Northland's sun can be so much fun.

But it can also be a killer, with the region having one of the highest rates of melanoma in the Western World.

The danger is well known by Puketona man Lance Thomas, who is back at work as a Northpower linesman after his latest melanoma scare led to several operations and partial paralysis of  the right side of his face.

Now Mr Thomas is urging people to follow simple safety messages.

"The old 'slip, slop, slap and wrap'. It works and everybody should do it when in the sun," he said.

 Mr Thomas was diagnosed with another melanoma in June.

The father of son Bailey,  12, and 6-year-old daughter Zara, has had two kidney transplants, which reduces his immunity and make him more susceptible to the sun's harsh effects.

He had already had several melanoma removed when he was diagnosed again in June.

"I thought 'here we go again' and it would get removed no problems, but this was my first melanoma that led to a serious, major operation," Mr Thomas said.

 While he is back at work, Mr Thomas knows that he is likely to be hit by melanoma again and he will continue to do all he can to reduce the risk.

Northland Cancer Society health promoter Jim Callaghan said the number of melanoma cases in Northland had been increasing steadily.

In 2000 there were 59 new cases in Northland, with 87 in 2008.

The region's peak wasin 2002 with 97 cases.

Mr Callaghan said the The Costs of Skin Cancer to New Zealand report, commissioned by the Cancer Society, estimates that skin cancer costs the New Zealand health system more than $57 million each year.