Re: Global Cancer Summit in Dublin recently. Was the issue of ozone therapy and sufficient oxygen to human cells raised as a preventative measure against cancer and/or a means of inhibiting further mutation of cells in cancer patients. Are people aware of this???

This is just another of Minister Harney's 'sound bites' which have no real substance and are intended to divert attention from the real problems in the Irish Health Service / HSE. There are major problems to be addressed before we worry about who can afford to use a sun bed! Time to get real.

I must say that I am disappointed to find our minister for health still putting on elastoplast while the patient is dying from preventable illnesses.

We are too compliant and supine, I fear.

I think under 18's definitely shouldn't be allowed on sunbeds, but there should also be much stricter controls on the amount of time and the frequency people should be allowed spend on them.

I am reading the book (in German) of Dr. Nobuo Shioya dated 1997, called "Dai-kenko ryoku", Golf Digest Sha Tokio. He is writing about the subject of missing oxygen in the modern human being and breathing methods how to correct this. It sounds very promising, especially since he is a healthy person of about 105 years!

As a person who travels abroad a lot due to the restrictive nature of irish life in the last decade due smoking bans etc and their rigorous enforcement, its amazing the amount of comments I get from people on the continent as to how they regard Ireland as being the island of bans!

If we need improvements in our habits and our way of life etc bans are not the way to go.

Hopefully fresh air is not on the list of possible future bans although I notice that some garages are charging for air in their forecourts.

Have we learned nothing from history or are we too busy 'going forward'?

Hoping my comments will not be banned on the basis of being too 'politically incorrect!

I believe that any machine which produces an artificial tan on the skin is asking for trouble later in life, as well as damaging the skin it will also age it. Who wants to look aged before their time?

I'm amazed that anyone interested enough in health matters to use this site would vote for anything other than an outright ban. How many needless skin-cancers must we have before people cop on??

In answer to nedej's question I suggest they look up the properties of beetroot. As oxygen carrier it's the best and as to cancer - - well in Hungary they just about force-feed it to cancer victims. (Happily for me - I love the stuff).

Peter - ex leukaemia patient.

hi

yes they should be banned-my husband's cousin lost his wife 10 years ago, she was always on the sunbed, she got a lump and it was cancer. she was cured then it came back again and she died. she was such a beautiful woman, she is missed so much.

no

Ultimately unless we become an orwellian state then i think its not really a runner to ban these outright however i would certainly prohibit Under 18's from going near them. Bottom line is if we can't ban smoking outright so it would be hard to do this.

Why should we vote for an outright ban? People need to be responsible for their own health. Imagine the uproar if we banned tobbaco, alcohol, trans fats, aluminium based deodorants, aerosols etc. What is important is to inform people of the dangers of such things and allow them to make up their own minds, NOT to take away their free will.

To Ann "As a person who travels abroad a lot due to the restrictive nature of irish life in the last decade due smoking bans etc" I feel strongly that if you have to travel abroad to smoke you're missing something vital in life.

It's exactly people like you that has us in a 'nanny-state'. If you can't curb your excesses then others (unfortunatly) must. I got cancer because of passive smoking playingmusic and working in bars.. I do not accept it's "allright to have a few when we're out" - NO it isn't. It's not ok to smoke. It's not ok to drive while in a less than fit state, it's not allright to encourage smuggling of drugs - or people. These ALL have serious negative influences on those athers that live on this island. Stopping people using sunbeds is a no brainer - not that I ever thought I'd agree with Ms Harney. But it is so.

If you feel that you must flee the land at regular intervals to smoke or whatever - think for a moment of those of us that can't, that are stuck here unable to find work because of my medical history and ongowing conditions.

Dear Ann get a grip.

Of course there should NOT be an outright ban. Even though a lot of people, myself included, dont use them, I think its extremely important that we have the choice to use them if we want to.

Furthermore, dangerous and all as they can be, sunbeds also have their benefits. I know of people who find that sunbed use helps with their S.A.D. and acne and I don't think they, or anyone else for that matter should be denied THEIR choice to use sunbeds.

Dignity 09, what the hell are you on about? how can you compare using a sunbed to human trafficing?

and while I'm at it, why should those of us that can afford to and are going away for a holiday or short break, feel guilty for doing so?

FAO Traudie;  Check out beetroot for conserving oxygen in the body. It's going to be the new "must have" in sport. 

As for sunbeds; I think the sun-bed-thing is (some of it anyway) about getting light in our mist-covered-Isle. Better use less alcohol, tea & coffee put adrenal glands under stress, the very glands that help us in Seasonal Affective Disorder.  One interesting therapy is full spectrum light therapy, designed to replicate natural sunlight, which has been used to treat SAD syndrome with good results. As well as light boxes and visors there are also bodyclocks. These work by using your body’s natural response to sunrise and sunset to help synchronise your sleep/wake pattern. Each morning the light comes on very slowly (imitating sunrise) so your body responds to the increased light levels around you, subconsciously, and you wake up feeling refreshed. The lights can be expensive but may be worth a try.

Nature also has a lot to offer. Hypericum (St John’s Wort), Passiflora.         As mad as it may sound, going for a bracing walk in wild winter weather can literally ‘blow the cobwebs away’! If the wind is whipping up a storm it will certainly oxygenate you! And exercise produces endorphins – those wonderful chemicals that make you feel good. AND you will get some colour. (Blue to start with ) but look at any farmer - s/he's always tanned!!

How have you managed to equate using a sunbed with human trafficking? Two very different things!

Yes sunbeds should be banned for under 18s.  However its about time adults took responsibility for their own health, Ministers should not be banning products because adults refuse to take their health seriously.  Her time would be better spent doing something real like vaccinating against a preventible illness like cervical cancer, instead of her policy of selling the health service down the river to private enterprise.

Agreed Annon, unfortunately the government seem to think they are some kind of mamy and daddy figures when it comes to controlling the Irish people. Let people take responsibility. Once they are educated then they can make informed decisions. if they wish to kill themsleves so be it.

The U.S will be putting a total  ban on sunbeds use very soon in light of the starkling statistics linked to skin cancer. These sun beds are doing huge damage to peoples lives. Ireland should follow our lead in banning their use as soon as possible.  

irishmike - can you give me some proof that the US is putting a total ban on sunbeds? One or two states may be considering it but I would like to see where it is a blanket US ban. Thanks