Melanoma survivor shares cancer fight
Every year 354 people die from melanoma in New Zealand, that’s almost one person a day.
Experts are now predicting the country is on the verge of a skin cancer epidemic with the number of people diagnosed predicted to increase by 50 per cent over the next 20 years.
Con is one of the lucky ones. He was diagnosed with melanoma in August 2014.
‘‘I am stock-standard Kiwi issue of that generation of bare foot, and sun block didn’t really come into thoughts as you play as kids and teenagers.’’
He was someone who got semiregular mole check ups from a specialist.
‘‘I’d been and had a mole check done and got the all clear and then missed my next one by six months.’’
In 18 months since his prior screening, a mole had transformed into a melanoma.
‘‘I’d been and had a mole check done and got the all clear and then missed my next one by six months.’’
The mole was taken out the next day and after the long wait for pathology results it came back as malignant. A piece of Con’s chest was taken out by a surgeon and the cancer has gone.
‘‘Because of my GP’s early diagnosis and ability to help me get in to see a surgeon, it saved my life.’’
New Zealand has the highest rates of invasive melanoma per capita in the world. Con was one of over 4500 people diagnosed with it every year.
‘‘The first thing that people have got to do is protection, you just don’t move without sunblock in a place like New Zealand.’’ Since Con’s diagnosis he has pushed those nearest to him into getting checked out. Despite 70 per cent of melanoma cases occurring in people aged 50 and over, Con says the younger generation needs to be aware. ‘‘The equal most important thing our generation can do is help our children’s generation get in front of this and that comes down to protection and early detection.’’ Since having the melanoma removed, Con has had other benign moles taken out.
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB), a history of childhood sunburn, using sunbeds, a personal or family history of melanoma and being fairskinned and/or red-headed are all risk factors for melanoma. Melanoma Awareness Week is from November 14 to 21.