Skin cancer still a worry
MELANOMA skin cancer rates are declining in Victorians aged under 55 but more tan-obsessed youths are getting early forms of melanoma.
Research, published today in the Medical Journal of Australia, shows men over 55 years of age are getting “invasive melanoma” more than any other group.
While doctors are detecting more early stage tumours in the younger generation, the melanomas are not progressing to severe stages due to early intervention.
The study also reveals fashion, beauty and grooming decisions affect tumour positions in men and women.
“The higher anatomic distribution of tumours on the face, scalp and neck in men and of tumours on the upper and lower limbs in women may both be explained by current clothing and grooming trends,” the study said.
University of Sydney dermatologist, and co-author, Dr Saxon Smith said the higher rates in men over 55 were because they were not as diligent as women at getting checked.
“We still need to have a significant role in reminding males over 55 to continue to get checked,” Dr Smith said.
“We know that males overall aren’t very good at looking after their own health, with everything from diabetes to cancer.”
Dr Smith said the decline in advanced forms for younger people was due to early detection and education campaigns.
“What this is showing is that we are picking up melanoma earlier and treating them,” he said.
“If you catch an invasive melanoma before it becomes invasive the patients have a much better prognosis.
“We need to identify those ugly ducklings — moles, freckles on the body that could be- come cancerous.”
The research was done by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital which examined melanoma rates in Victoria from 1985 to 2015.
Figures obtained during the research period show 58,497 people were diagnosed with invasive melanoma tumours.
During the same time there were 42,351 cases of people having the melanomas detected early.
Cancer Council Victoria prevention director Craig Sinclair said the positive results for young people were a reminder of the importance of sun safety campaigns like Slip! Slop! Slap!
“We see this impact reflected every day by the number of schoolchildren in broadbrim hats, by the increased shade in our public parks and gardens and by the strong public support we had that led to a ban on commercial solariums,” he said.