Skip to main content

What you need to know about skin cancer

2 in 3 Australians will get skin cancer before the age of 70

Studies show that approximately 2 out of 3 Australians will develop skin cancer within their lifetime. Fortunately if detected early skin cancer can be one of the most treatable cancers. That’s why our focus is to provide the highest level of skin cancer treatment and screening available.

Every year nearly 2000 Australians die from skin cancer

Skin cancer is a general term which embodies all cancers that form in different cells of the skin. Skin Cancer is mostly caused by cells which have been damaged by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV rays).

It affects hundreds of thousands of people living in Australia each year and although it is most common amongst the fair skinned, all skin types are at risk.

Skin cancers are generally categorised into three common types; basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma. A fourth, non-cancerous category is also identified as Pre-Cancerous Actinic Keratosis.

Outdoor workers generally receive 5 to 10 times more UVR exposure per year than indoor workers
Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) is emitted from the sun or artificial sources such as solariums. It is not related to temperature, nor is it related to heat. UVR is what causes sun burn, skin and eye damage, premature aging and in some cases, leads to skin cancer.

Levels of UVR can be high even on cool, cloudy days. The UV Index describes the daily danger of solar UV radiation intensity. It is important for all Australian’s to check for the UV Index levels on a daily basis in order to know when you will require sun protection and what preventative sun exposure methods to action.