Skin Cancer
Did you know?
- By the age of 70, approximately 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer.
- In 2016, 335 Tasmanians were diagnosed with Melanoma. Of those 335 diagnoses, 30 Tasmanians died from Melanoma.
- Melanoma was the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer among Tasmanian males and females in 2016.
Common symptoms of skin cancer include:
- A new spot or mole on your skin
- A spot that is different from other spots on your skin
- Any crusty or non-healing sores
- Any spots, freckles or any moles changing in colour, thickness or shape over a period of weeks to months.
Get to know your skin and what’s normal for you, particularly if you’re over 40 years of age. If you notice any of these symptoms or any other unusual changes tell your doctor. It doesn’t mean you’ve got skin cancer – often they turn out to be something less serious. But it’s important to get checked.
If it is skin cancer, the earlier it’s found, the greater the chance of successful treatment.
How to check your own skin
Click here to learn how to check for signs of skin cancer.
Reduce your risk
While there are some risk factors we have no control over, like our skin type and our past skin exposure, there are steps we can take to protect ourselves from the sun. Visit the skin cancer page on the Cancer Council Australia website for more information.