DENNIS Canavan, the MSP who lost his teenage son to skin cancer in 1989, is to deliver an emotional public address about the experience to warn parents about the dangers of the disease.

Amid concerns over a growing skin cancer epidemic in Scotland, the politician has agreed to talk about his 16-year-old son’s death later this month at a high-profile conference in Edinburgh, organised to curb the spread of the condition.

Since Paul’d death to malignant melanoma 15 years ago Canavan has not talked publicly about his grief but speaking ahead of the event, the independent MSP said his family “has been absolutely devastated” by the death.

He also called on the Scottish Executive to launch a nationwide television and newspaper advertising campaign to warn Scots about the factors that can lead to skin cancer, which is now the most prevalent type of cancer in Scotland.

He said: “I had never heard of malignant melanoma until the doctors diagnosed Paul with it. But even when the doctor told us of the diagnosis, and he explained that it was potentially lethal, I felt he was just giving the worst possible scenario.

“Even at that time, I didn’t really think that Paul would die. But six months after the diagnosis, he was dead. In September 1988 he was a healthy young lad on the verge of manhood and by April 1989 he was dead.”

His son, who was a fifth-year pupil at St Modan’s High in Stirling, died in Strathcarron Hospice in Denny. Before Paul’s illness, Canavan said his son had been fit and healthy with barely a day’s sickness in his life.

“With Paul it was on his upper arm. It was just like a little wart, less than the size of a penny coin. When the doctor said it was potentially lethal I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe that something that looked like a small wart could grow and grow and cause internal problems through the whole body.

“Eventually the cancer spread to Paul’s brain. It was difficult to comprehend at the time and I still find it very difficult to comprehend fully. It’s an experience you never get over. You never get over the death of a child. We were all left absolutely devastated.”

The MSP warned that children with light skin and fair hair were particularly vulnerable and that the rise of package holidays abroad and the fashion of sunbed tans were increasing the risk of developing skin cancer.

According to the latest figures, 140 people are now being diagnosed with skin cancer in Scotland each week. Between 1995 and 2000, cases of malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, increased by 24%.

He added: “The doctors were unable to give the exact cause in Paul’s case but it’s possible that over-exposure to the sun was a factor. He was very light-skinned and he had blond hair.

“I feel very strongly that more action is needed by the Scottish Executive. It would be in the form of television ads, newspaper ads and leaflets being given out at health centres, clinics and schools. Even encouraging GPs and nurses to point out to parents, especially those with very fair complexions, about the dangers would help.”

The conference – which is being organised by Labour MSP Helen Eadie – will gather Scottish health experts to discuss the latest treatments for tackling the disease. Health minister Malcolm Chisholm is also to speak at the event, which is to take place at The Hub, in Edinburgh, on April 26.

Despite the conference taking place just three days before the 15th anniversary of his son’s death, Canavan said he felt compelled to warn other parents of the dangers posed by the disease.

“This will be the first time I have ever formally talked about Paul’s death. I still find it very difficult to speak about it but I felt that perhaps it would help get the message across and ensure that other parents don’t have to experience what I did with the loss of a child.

“There is still a high level of ignorance out there. There are a lot of parents and young people who are just unaware of what skin cancer is. I feel that parents ought to be made aware of the dangers.”

Screening for the future

A NATIONAL screening programme should be adopted in Scotland to fast-track patients with potentially lethal skin cancers.

The call, led by Dr Girish Gupta, a consultant dermatologist at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, comes as more Scots than ever are developing the condition.

Lanarkshire trials of an innovative screening technique have proved successful in ensuring that those with the most serious conditions are prioritised.

At present, any patient who sees their GP and is worried about the condition is referred to a specialist, no matter how serious their condition may be. The system means that dermatologists are swamped by referrals, leading to a backlog of cases.

Under Gupta’s pilot scheme, patients have their lesions digitally photographed at Monklands Hospital within 24 hours of visiting their GP. Dermatologists then view the images and fast-track the most serious cases for treatment.

The system, which has been shown to reduce delays and ensure speedy hospital treatment, is understood to be arousing interest within the Scottish Executive’s department of health.

Gupta said: “At the moment we receive a letter from a GP saying, ‘This is a changing mole. I think it may be skin cancer. Would you please see my patient?’. There is very little description about the problem but on the basis of that letter you have to see them urgently. In one month alone we had 120 referrals from GPs for patients with possible skin cancer, but only about 10% had the condition.

“With the written letters we are unable to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions but the images provide us with a way of determining which are the most serious. This system is workable and could be extended across Scotland.”

A Scottish Executive spokesman said: “Once the results of this pilot are made available these will no doubt be shared amongst colleagues and the regional networks for skin cancer.”