Skin cancer and Australians

Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.

One out of every two Australians will develop skin cancer at some stage during their lives.

About 5.6 million Australians still get sunburnt every summer, despite the fact that most Australians know the risks of developing skin cancer. Sunburn and overexposure to UV are the primary cause of skin cancers.

This year, almost 300,000 Australians will visit a doctor or specialist to have a skin cancer (or cancers) removed.

Over 720,000 skin cancer removal operations take place in Australia annually, at a cost to the Federal Government of over $300 million.

Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in Australia (after non-melanocytic skin cancers, colorectal, prostate and breast cancer). It is the most common cancer in men and women aged 15 to 44 years.

In 1997, the year for which the most recent statistics are available, 8,366 new cases were diagnosed and 910 people died of melanoma.

Australian survival rates from melanoma are generally higher than in other countries because we are now more aware of the signs of skin cancer, and detect them early.

The five-year survival rate for the three out of four melanoma patients who have their cancer treated early (melanomas under 0.75 mm in depth) is 100%. Patients whose melanomas develop beyond a depth of 3 mm have only a 59% chance of living five years.

Women have a higher survival rate after being diagnosed with melanoma than men, and men are 50% more likely to develop a secondary melanoma than women.

People in Queensland and the Northern Territory face the highest risk of developing skin cancer, followed by New South Wales, then Victoria.

Australian migrants, although having a significantly lower risk of skin cancer than people born in Australia, can still develop the disease. British and European migrants have the highest risk, followed by Southern European and Middle Eastern migrants. Australian Aborigines, who have the darkest skin of all people living in Australia, can also develop skin cancer.

 

SUNSCREEN

Sunscreen or 'suntan lotion' is used by over 40% of Australians to protect their skin from the sun's damaging ultraviolet radiation or 'UV'.

Sunscreens protect the skin in two different ways, by reflecting UV away from the skin and by absorbing UV before it can penetrate your skin. In essence, sunscreen is a chemical barrier that protects your skin.

With sun protection being a major concern in Australia,hundreds of varieties and brands of sunscreen are now on the market for you to choose from.

When choosing a sunscreen that will protect you, there are a few things you should know:

No sunscreen offers 100% protection from the sun's damaging UV. Even with sunscreen, UV will still get through to the fragile upper and lower layers of your skin.

Sunscreen should always be used in conjunction with other forms of protection like hats, sunglasses, clothing and shade.

Sun protection factor (SPF) 30+ sunscreen offers you maximum protection from the sun, blocking out 96% of UV. SPF 15+ will block out 93%.

Using SPF 30+ instead of SPF 15+ does not mean you can safely double the amount of time you spend in the sun. Never use sunscreen to extend the amount of time you would normally spend in the sun.

For sunscreen to be effective at protecting you from sunburn, slop it on 20 minutes before going outside. This gives the protective elements in sunscreen time to bond to your skin. Don't rub it in, a light film should stay visible. Remember to reapply every two hours or more regularly if swimming or sweating a lot.

If you experience a reaction to sunscreen, experiment with other brands first, before giving sunscreen away. It is often the fragrances or moisturisers in sunscreen that cause skin irritation. Try sensitive skin formulas or brands especially made for children.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. You should also try to buy sunscreens that are labelled 'Broad Spectrum' as they will protect you from both types of UV: UVA and UVB.

The Tennis Coach would like to thank Sunsmart Victoria for the right to publish these very important articles.