Summer is officially here and as the weather heats up, we need to make sure we all Slip, Slop, Slap in order to prevent and protect yourself against Melanoma.
With summer well and truly underway, chances are we will all be enjoying the great outdoors, especially while on a holiday break as we tend to spend more time outside having fun and enjoying life.
With Australia having the highest incidence of melanoma in the world, extra care really needs to be taken. With this in mind, organisations such as Cancer Council Australia have taken the opportunity to remind all Australians that protecting themselves when the UV levels are 3 or above and keeping a close eye on their skin is the best way to reduce the risk of skin cancer. And for good reason too. Consider the following statistics as published by Cancer Council Australia:
- Sunburn causes 95% of melanomas, the deadliest form of skin cancer, and
- In Australia, almost 14% of adults, 24% of teenagers and 8% of children are sunburnt on an average summer weekend. Many people get sunburnt when they are taking part in water sports and activities at the beach or a pool, as well as gardening or having a barbeque.
More specifically and with regards to melanomas, Melanoma Institute Australia notes that:
- Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world
- Melanoma rates are still on the rise with an estimated 392 extra cases per year
- Estimated number of new cases of Melanoma diagnosed in 2022 was 17,756 (10,374 males & 7,382 females)
- Estimated deaths from melanoma were 1,281 in 2022 (825 males & 456 females).
- Cancer accounts for around 3 of every 10 deaths in Australia
For the full report read this article: Melanoma of the skin statistics
The good news is that melanoma is often identifiable at an early stage where simple treatment can result in complete cure. If you do notice any changes to your skin, please consult a doctor who will examine carefully to check any spots you may have noticed or have identified as changed. A doctor will use a handheld magnifying instrument (dermascope) and consider the criteria known as “ABCDE” (Asymmetry, irregular, Border uneven or scalloped edges, Colour, Diameter usually over 6mm, Evolving changes). Further tests may be carried out or a referral will be made to a specialist (dermatologist).
Prevention is always better than the cure. As always, education is creating so please share this with your family, and friends so they can be aware of the risk and take preventative measures this summer that it tipped to one of the hottest on record.
If you’d like to know if your trauma covers any stages of melanoma, reach out to Ben at HTA Wealth today.
