Bord Bia, in partnership with the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and Healthy Ireland, has launched a campaign to raise awareness around cancer among farmers, that will run throughout the summer to encourage them to protect their skin while working outdoors.
During the campaign, which started on 1 May and runs to 31 August, Bord Bia auditors will distribute the ‘SunSmart for Farmers’ leaflets to all beef, dairy and sheep farmers during their Bord Bia audit. With close to 780 farms visited weekly by Bord Bia auditors, the campaign will reach over 12,000 farmers during the peak UV exposure season.
A Bord Bia spokesperson said that the Irish food agency is leveraging its access to the Irish farming community to support the HSE and Healthy Ireland’s annual campaign. The leaflet outlines actionable steps that farmers can take to protect themselves from sun damage, including checking their skin and moles regularly for changes.
The leaflet features the ‘ABCDE’ checklist to help farmers know when a mole or patch of skin may be melanoma skin cancer:
A = Asymmetry – when one half of the mole is not the same as the other.
B = Border – The edges of the mole are irregular, blurry or jagged.
C = Colour – Uneven in colour the mole may have different shades of black, brown and pink.
D = Diameter – Melanomas may grow more than 6mm, which is the width of a pencil.
E = Evolution – The mole may change in size, shape, or colour. It may also start to itch or bleed. Normal moles usually stay the same size, shape and colour.
Ann-Marie Lawlor, HSE’s Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer, said that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland, with those working outdoors particularly at risk.
“Farmers and other outdoor workers receive two to three times more UV radiation than those working indoors, making them more vulnerable to skin cancer. Through this joint initiative with Bord Bia, we’re placing life-saving advice directly in farmers’ hands. Small protective habits today can make a big difference for long-term health,” she noted.
Pictured at the campaign launch on a farm in Ballyduff, Co. Waterford (l-r): Eoghan Geraghty, Bord Bia; Ross Crowe, farm manager; Ann-Marie Lawlor, HSE; and David Hayes, Bord Bia auditor.
