Flip-flop cancer risk

They fear the rising popularity of open-toed sandals and designer flip-flops is putting people at risk of getting skin cancer on their feet.

They say footwear such as the gladiator sandals favoured by Sienna Miller and Kate Moss can increase the risk of women developing deadly lesions because they increase the skin's exposure to intense sunlight, a key cause of skin tumours, or melanomas.

Staff at one London clinic have seen at least two patients with sun-related foot cancer in the past three months.

One patient treated at the London Foot and Ankle Centre in St John's Wood had spent two years with a foot melanoma without realising.

Anthony Kontos, head of the clinic at the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth, said patients often mistook skin cancer on the feet for bruising.

The podiatric surgeon said: "With the increasing popularity of open-toed sandals and flipflops, feet often have a sudden blast of intense sunlight.

"Our feet are enclosed in shoes most of the year and then we pack our sandals for a holiday in very hot temperatures. This means feet are particularly susceptible to sunburn.

"People are generally aware of checking other parts of their body for suspicious moles but they're unlikely to examine their feet." Exposure to sun in childhood is the biggest risk factor for melanomas.

Cancer that affects the feet is known as "acral melanoma" and typically occurs on the sole of the foot, between the toes or under the toenails.

It does not cause any pain or discomfort and is hard to spot.

This form is particularly aggressive because it is often only diagnosed at a late stage and can rapidly spread to other parts of the body.

Research shows that only half of patients with foot melanomas survive, compared with four out of five people who develop cancer elsewhere on their legs.

Bob Marley died from a melanoma on his foot which he thought was a football injury. Doctors offered to amputate his toe but the singer refused for religious reasons and the cancer spread.

Mr Kontos's advice is to apply factor 15 sunscreen or above to feet, including the soles, and allow them to acclimatise to heat by limiting the time spent in open-toed sandals.

He also wants better health programmes to make people more aware of the dangers of sunburn and cancer.

The British Skin Foundation warned that people often neglected their feet when it came to applying sun lotion.

A spokesman said: "The fact is that all types of skin cancer are on the rise.

"Women especially are susceptible because any lotion applied to the bridge of the foot gets rubbed off by sandals."

VIEW ON THE STREET

Kateryna Krivets, 23, a student from Shepherd's Bush: "I always forget to use sunscreen. It's never high on my list of priorities and I know that's wrong. You always think these things only happen to other people, so you push it to the back of your mind. I'm going to make a conscious effort from now on to use it."

Iris Arsic, 32, a freelance producer from Kensington: "There are always health scares in this country and, as far as I'm concerned, this is just another one. I put sunscreen on my face but never on my feet, unless I'm going abroad. This research will not change that."

Anna Markiewicz, 28, a conveyancing searcher from Enfield: "I use suncream on holiday but never in the UK. This won't put me off wearing flip-flops but it will make me think about protecting myself and my feet from the sun more."

Nicola Kell, 34, a full-time mother from Newcastle: "I have had skin cancer and I'm now extra careful about using suncream. I wear it all the time and put it everywhere. I think this research should make people more aware of the dangers of walking around unprotected in the sun. It's really important that people listen."

Cassie Gray, 31, a music consultant from Shoreditch: "I only wear suncream on the beach and only if it's a really hot day do I bother putting it on my face in London. People in this country don't take enough care. Just because it's not that hot out doesn't mean the sun's rays are not harmful."

Lucy Mellor, 24, an estate agent from Battersea: "I think this is all hype and I won't be taking it seriously. I never wear sunscreen on my feet when I'm walking around London and I'm certainly not going to start now."