Have you ever had a skin check? Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Melanoma is the most common cancer in the 15-29 age group, while in the overall Australian population melanoma ranks as the third most common cancer.
It only takes 10-15 minutes to have a skin check and if your doctor thinks there are any spots to be concerned about, they’ll deal with it straight away.
The Bloomfield Group has long been a supporter of the Hunter Melanoma Foundation (HMF). They have most recently sponsored the foundation’s latest series of skin cancer awareness videos.
Bloomfield’s Community Relations Manager, Damien Butler, said the videos aim to start conversations and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of melanoma.
“Melanoma impacts all communities, and the Hunter is certainly not immune. If even one person who watches these videos is prompted to get a spot checked and catches a skin cancer early, it will be a successful campaign.”
In the last 10 years to June 2023, close to 5,000 people have presented to an emergency department for treatment of sunburn with the highest rates seen in people aged 5-24 years.
NSW Health said the high rates in children and young people are concerning as high sun exposure in the first 10 years of life more than doubles their risk of developing melanoma skin cancer.
Men over 50 represent just 12 per cent of the population but account for more than 50 per cent of all skin cancer deaths. The statistics are scary nationwide with two in three Australians developing some form of skin cancer during their lifetime and each year 3,000 people in NSW are diagnosed with melanoma.
“Melanoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the 15-39 age group. This age group is the target audience for the awareness campaign. Recent data released by the Hunter New England Local Health District shows that melanoma is the second most diagnosed cancer in our region,” said HMF Executive Officer Claudia Tolhurst.
The four new videos will feature in a social media campaign over the next 12 months and are also available on the HMF website.
How do you know if you should go for a skin check?
People with a lot of moles have a higher risk of melanoma. Adults with more than 10 on the arms and more than 200 on the body should have their moles regularly checked by their GP.
The other known high-risk factors are if you have fair skin, tend to sunburn easily, have a family history of melanoma, excessive sun exposure under the age of 15, large congenital moles (greater than 20cms) or high exposure to solariums.
You should self-examine your skin every three months. HMF says the first day of each season is a good way to remember to do a check. Check in a good light and include all your skin, your scalp, soles of your feet and have a partner check your back and other hard to see areas.
You should also have an annual skin check with your GP, Skin Cancer Clinic or Dermatologist and see your doctor immediately if you see a change in your spots, a new spot or a spot that looks different to the others around it.
Remember, prevention is the key to avoiding melanoma. Avoid the sun from 10am – 2pm or whenever the UV is above 3, never use solariums or sunbeds, apply sunscreen thoroughly 20 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapply regularly, wear collared and sleeved shirts, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats and stay in the shade wherever possible.
| For all the information on prevention and to see the latest awareness video head to: https://hmf.org.au |
