Despite risk for secondary skin cancers, many adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors do not practice recommended sun protection (SP). Ultraviolet light photography (UVP), which demonstrates the negative impact of sun exposure on physical appearance, has been shown to increase SP in community AYA samples. This study of 58 AYA cancer survivors demonstrates that UVP is acceptable and not distressing to this population. Follow-up data on 23 AYAs demonstrated that those given UVP significantly improve their SP behaviors, while those receiving standard educational materials do not. Results demonstrate UVP is a promising tool for increasing SP in AYA survivors.
Keywords: health behaviors; secondary skin cancer; sun protection; survivorship.