Love the skin you’re in
Damage now could be delayed for 20 years
A LEADING Geelong plastic surgeon has stressed vigilance is the key to skin cancer prevention this summer.
Speaking during National Skin Cancer Action Week, St John of God specialist Dr Peter Callan said the effects of skin exposure could be delayed for as long as 20 years so it was important to take preventive measures now to safeguard your future.
“Skin cancer prevention is a multi-pronged approach. No one thing is good enough,” Dr Callan said.
“The first is, protect yourself from the sun. Burning is very bad but tanning is not great either.
“The second is, monitor yourself ... you can use things like skin mapping photography to help.”
About 10 years ago, Susan, who did not want to be identified, noticed a small spot in the crease of her nose that was eventually identified as a basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer.
After removing a large por- tion of the side of her nose, Dr Callan was able to cover the hole with a flap of skin grafted while it was still attached to her forehead.
Over three years, he conducted eight more procedures on Susan’s nose.
Not only did she not lose her life, but to look at her nose today you wouldn’t be able to tell there was an issue, reaffirming the importance of being proactive about suspicious blemishes, regardless of their size.
Although most skin cancers still need to be cut out, for lower grade tumours less aggressive treatments, such as special creams, can be used.
The City of Greater Geelong had an average of 110 diagnosed melanomas between 2007 and 2011. The Surf Coast Shire recorded an average of 15 for the same time period.
Nationally, 2000 Australians die from skin cancer every year and treatment costs around $1 billion.
Recently released data from a Cancer Council Victoria survey revealed more than a third of Victorians did not know the correct indicator of sunburn risk was the UV level. Dr Callan said it was “very difficult” to be vitamin D deficient, particularly in summer, when incidental sun exposure was usually enough.
“There’s not much sun exposure you need to get enough vitamin D, the equivalent of 20 “minutes on one hand per day in the middle of winter,” he said.
“You’re only born with one skin so you can’t damage it. It has to keep you going for your entire life.”