Australia backyards, not beach, higher cancer risk

Australians are more at risk of contracting deadly skin cancer in their home backyards gardening, barbecuing or simply hanging out the washing than on the beach.

A national skin cancer survey, "From beach burns to backyard scorchings," found Australians were twice as likely to get sunburned in the backyard as on the beach, the Cancer Council of Australia said on Monday.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Australia, killing more than 35,500 people each year. Skin cancer is the most common, with more than 85,000 people diagnosed with the disease every year.

"Australians seem to be associating sun protection with the beach but not with their incidental outdoor activity," said Dr Andrew Penman, spokesman of the Cancer Council, at the launch of national skin cancer action week.

The survey found 8 percent of Australians went to the beach each weekend, but 29 percent spent time gardening or working around the home.

One in five Australians were sunburned on summer weekends. Of those, 32 percent were burned gardening or working around the house while 17 percent were burned at the beach or in the water. Another 24 percent were burned while engaging in outdoor activities such as picnics and barbecues.

Sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer later in life.