Are you keeping skin aware?
Melanoma is Australia’s national cancer, with an estimated 17,000 Australians diagnosed with invasive melanoma and more than 1,400 people losing their lives to the disease each year.
Professor H. Peter Soyer, UQ Chair in Dermatology and Director of the UQ Dermatology Research Centre, encourages Australians to become skin aware by monitoring spots or moles that are sore, changing, abnormal or new - which are some of the potential first signs of skin cancer.
If you notice any of these symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider and ask for a skin check. Australians with high-risk factors for melanoma (fair skin, numerous moles and photodamaged skin) should also see a GP or dermatologist for skin checks.
“On top of being skin aware, it’s important to protect your skin from the sun. It’s never too late to reduce your risk of skin cancer by using sun protective measures such as avoiding the sun during midday hours, using shade where possible and wearing protective clothing, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen,” Professor Soyer said.
Melanoma survivor, Jessica Stafford-Ewing, understands the importance of remaining vigilant.
As an actress and presenter, Jessica spent her 20s trying to achieve the sun-kissed tan that many Australians still strive for.
“I didn't even know what melanoma was - I thought that was a blanket term for skin cancer. I had only ever had two skin checks in my life,” she said.
“I was very lucky that my melanoma was found by chance by a dermatologist during an unrelated appointment. Thankfully, it was early-stage and successfully treated with surgery.”
Jessica is now an advocate for early detection of skin cancer and shares her story to increase awareness, particularly for Australians aged 20-39 who may not understand that melanoma is the most common cancer for their age group.
On UQ Giving Day this Wednesday 18 October, expert dermatologists from the UQ Dermatology Research Centre will be offering free skin checks at UQ’s Brisbane city location.
“A skin check could save your life, like it did mine,” said Jessica.