Each month, Suncity doctors perform hundreds of procedures to detect and treat skin cancer.

Skin cancer accounts for 80% of all new cancers in Australia, and half of the Australian population will be diagnosed with skin cancer at some point in their life. Non melanoma skin cancer leads to over 1 million consultations with doctors annually.

Often, these non melanoma skin cancers are the result of sun damage, and they progress into more deadly cancers and often recur.

Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer, and Melanoma risks can be higher if patients exhibit suspicious moles, or have had a previous melanoma. Family history of Melanoma may increase risks, as can previous histories of sunburn or excessive tanning bed usage. One early indication is a mole or spot that changes size, shape or color, or itches or bleeds regularly. A skin check with a Suncity expert can help answer any questions you may have, and also quickly offer treatment options if Melanoma is detected. Each year, almost 10,000 cases of melanoma are detected, and more than 1,200 die of this disease.

Skin cancer has become a national crisis, with Australia experiencing the highest rate of skin cancer and skin cancer related mortality in the world.

Costs, both economic and in terms of quality of life, are rising rapidly, most notably ‘non melanoma skin cancers’ which cost the Australian taxpayer over $200 million annually.
And although the government spends millions of dollars on advertsiements to make the public aware of the risks the incidence rates continue to rise.

Some facts about Skin Cancer in Australia
Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. At least two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70.

Over 1,000 Australians are treated for skin cancer every day and over 1,600 Australians die from skin cancer each year. In 2005, 245 Victorians died from melanoma.

The major cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and other artificial sources, such as solariums.

The good news is that skin cancer is the most preventable form of cancer in Australia. Skin cancer can also be cured if detected and treated early.

The Western Australian Institute of Dermal Health aims to increase the success rate of treatments and early detection strategies by increasing both public knowledge and knowledge within the medical profession itself.