Support SunSmart’s skin cancer prevention campaign
What you’ll find on this page:
Learn about SunSmart Victoria’s skin cancer prevention campaign ‘Don’t Let Cancer In’
SunSmart Victoria in partnership with the Victorian Department of Health have jointly funded a new skin cancer prevention campaign to raise awareness of the serious consequences of skin cancer and increase sun protection behaviours among Victorian men and women.
This campaign, ‘Don’t Let Cancer In,’ marks an important step in Victoria’s ongoing leadership in skin cancer prevention, with skin cancer being Australia’s most common and costly cancer. However, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers with the use of good sun protection as over 95% of melanoma skin cancer and 99% of non-melanoma cases are a result of over exposure to the sun’s UV radiation.
In Victoria, there are around 150,000 treatments for non-melanoma skin cancers, and over 2800 newly diagnosed melanomas each year. Melanoma is considered the most serious and dangerous form of skin cancer because it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body, especially if not found early.
We’ve seen positive progress in skin cancer prevention in Victoria with a decline in melanoma rates for people under the age of 50 years. This is the generation that has grown up with SunSmart. However, SunSmart is concerned that some population groups are not listening to these life-saving sun protection messages, with survey reports indicating only one in two Victorians were using sun protection as part of their daily routine during summer.
Recent data also shows that it is often the everyday outdoor activities, like walking the dog or gardening, where people fail to use sun protection and are exposing their skin to harmful UV radiation. This repeated exposure to UV radiation can cause skin cancer, including melanoma.
This new hard-hitting campaign ‘Don’t Let Cancer In’ is addressing complacency head on and will speak to parts of our community who are most at risk, including men, who are twice as likely to die from melanoma, and those in regional areas who are 44% more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma than those living in metropolitan areas.
Launching in November and running till February 2024, SunSmart will be sharing messages across multiple channels, warning Victorians not to let cancer in. The campaign will also reinforce the need to cover up from UV when the index hits 3.
How you can help
SunSmart is encouraging healthcare professionals to discuss skin cancer prevention with their patients and encourage them to check the UV before they go outside and use a combination of sun protection strategies whenever UV index levels are 3 or above.
Health professionals play a pivotal role in providing preventative information to patients and reducing future burden of skin cancer on the Victorian population.
You can:
- Encourage patients to cover up their skin whenever UV index levels are 3 or above. SunSmart has a range of free skin cancer prevention resources to support this.
- Encourage patients to look at SunSmart website and check UV levels on apps and weather forecasts to plan their sun protection.
- Add the SunSmart website widget to your practice website
- Discuss skin cancer risk, especially if patients are high risk or have a personal or family history and develop surveillance plans for patients.
- Encourage patients to check their skin and if they notice any changes, come and book an appointment with you.
- Access free skin cancer online education for health professionals at www.sunsmart.com.au/skin-cancer/health-professionals.
- Apply to the Dermoscopy for General Practice Program for your chance to access fully subsidised skin cancer equipment and training.
The following content will support you to share messages about the risk of UV exposure, skin cancer including melanoma, as well as practical messages about how to check the UV index and cover up. There is also newsletter copy to support these life-saving messages.
Section one: Raise awareness of serious consequences of skin cancer and ‘Don’t Let Cancer In’
Key messages
- Repeated exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause skin cancer including the deadliest form melanoma, which can spread from your skin to vital organs including your lungs, liver and brain.
- Everyday outdoor activities can expose your skin to the sun’s UV radiation, the more the skin is exposed to the sun’s UV radiation, the greater the risk of skin cancer.
- When you go out, don’t let cancer in.
Social assets
Post 1: Did you know repeated exposure to sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause skin cancer including the deadliest form melanoma, which can spread from your skin to brain, liver, and lungs? This summer, @SunSmart is reminding Victorians when you go out, don’t let cancer in. Find out how at sunsmart.com.au #DontLetCancerIn
Post 2: Heading outside today? Without sun protection, you’re leaving your skin exposed to dangerous UV radiation. The more the skin is exposed, the greater the risk of skin cancer. When you go out, don’t let cancer in. Learn more sunsmart.com.au #DontLetCancerIn
Newsletter copy
Headline: SunSmart Victoria sends our strong warning, ‘Don’t Let Cancer In’.
We all love spending time outdoors with friends and family, from the bush to beaches we are lucky to live in this beautiful state. However, being outdoors in Victoria means we’re exposed to some of the harshest and most dangerous levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world.
Repeated exposure to sun’s UV radiation can cause skin cancer. When UV radiation hits our exposed skin, it causes damage to the cells’ genetic material also known as DNA. This DNA damage can evolve into skin cancer and have deadly consequences including spreading to vital organs like your lungs, liver and brain.
But the good news is skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers.
That’s why we’re sharing SunSmart Victoria’s latest skin cancer prevention campaign called, ‘Don’t Let Cancer In’, which highlights the risks of skin cancer and reminds Victorians of the importance of using sun protection when the UV index hits 3.
We want our patients and community to know their risk of UV radiation when heading outside in [insert relevant location].
SunSmart’s new campaign, which runs over summer, is calling for Victorians to not let cancer in when they go out. As it is repeated exposure to the sun’s UV radiation which can cause skin cancer including the deadliest form, melanoma.
It’s during everyday activities, such as walking the dog or gardening, when people may not realise, they are still being exposed to UV. Sunsmart is encouraging and reminding people when they go out to not to let cancer in
Learn more about UV radiation and SunSmart’s new campaign at sunsmart.com.au.
Section two: Remind Victorians to check UV, and when the index hits 3 to cover up
Key messages
- Once the index hits 3, cover up from UV.
- Before heading outdoors check the UV, and if 3 and above, cover up.
- Cover your skin by wearing a hat, clothing, and sunglasses. Apply sunscreen to any parts of skin you can’t cover with clothing. Enjoy shady areas outdoors to give you extra coverage.
- Learn more about when to cover your skin at sunsmart.com.au.
Social assets
Post 1: Skin cancer is mostly preventable. You can cover up by wearing protective clothing, a hat, sunglasses, SPF50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen and seeking shade. For other ways to protect your skin against UV, visit sunsmart.com.au. #whentheindexhits3 #coverup #SunSmartVic
Post 2: This summer we’re supporting SunSmart’s latest campaign #DontLetCancerIn by encouraging our patients to cover up. Be part of this movement and pledge to check UV levels every day and protect your skin, even when gardening or taking a walk. Share your commitment below and let's ensure everyone's safe. #whentheindexhits3 #coverup #SunSmartVic
Newsletter copy
Title: When the index hits three, are you covering up to protect against UV?
SunSmart Victoria is calling for all Victorians to cover up this summer and are launching a new campaign called, ‘Don’t Let Cancer In,’ to remind all Victorians that when the index hits 3, it’s important to cover up from UV.
Repeated exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause skin cancer including the deadliest form melanoma, which can spread from your skin to vital organs.
Everyday outdoor activities like walking the dog or gardening can expose your skin to the sun’s UV radiation. The more the skin is exposed to the sun’s UV radiation, the greater the risk of skin cancer.
But skin cancer can be prevented. Cover your skin by wearing a hat, clothing, and sunglasses. Apply sunscreen to any parts of skin you can’t cover with clothing. Enjoy shady areas outdoors to give you extra coverage.
SunSmart is also urging all Victorians to check the UV level before they leave the house to determine when they need to cover up. The UV Index is a tool you can use to protect yourself from UV radiation. The UV Index divides UV radiation levels into:
- low (1–2)
- moderate (3–5)
- high (6–7)
- very high (8–10)
- extreme (11 and above).
You can usually find the UV index in weather forecasts to help plan when you need to cover up when outdoors. You can also find UV levels on the SunSmart Global UV App, the BOM website or app and in your smartphone’s weather app. Before heading outdoors, check the UV and when it hits 3, cover up.
Learn more about UV radiation and how to cover up at sunsmart.com.au.
Section 3: Support Punjabi and Mandarin speaking communities
As part of this campaign, SunSmart Victoria will be supporting Victorians from Punjabi and Mandarin speaking communities to understand their risk of skin cancer and how to cover up when the UV index hits 3.
Translated materials and messages will be added here shortly.
Section 4: Promote this campaign through health professional networks
Sample social copy for health professional networks
We’re supporting SunSmart Victoria, whose new skin cancer prevention campaign, ‘Don’t Let Cancer In’ is raising awareness of the serious risk of skin cancer and urging Victorians to cover up when the UV index hits 3. Speak to your patients about skin cancer prevention so they don’t let cancer in and let’s reduce the burden of skin cancer to our state and community. Find out more at sunsmart.com.au. #DontLetCancerIn
Newsletter
Title: It’s time to remind your patients about sun protection this summer
In Victoria, there are around 150,000 treatments for non-melanoma skin cancers, and 2800 newly diagnosed melanomas each year. With melanoma is considered the most serious or dangerous form of skin cancer because it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body, especially if not found early.
However, skin cancer is also of the most preventable cancers with the use of good sun protection, due to over 95% of non-melanoma skin cancer and 99% of melanoma are attributable to over exposure to the sun's UV radiation.
This summer, SunSmart Victoria is launching a new campaign called ‘Don’t Let Cancer In’, in partnership with Victorian Department of Health, to raise awareness of the serious consequences of skin cancer and increase sun protection behaviours among Victorian men and women.
How you can help
As health professionals, we all have a crucial role in addressing skin cancer incidence and impact by encouraging patients to use sun protection.
With the campaign running over summer, we encourage you to join us in supporting SunSmart and their campaign by reminding patients of their skin cancer risk and the importance of skin cancer prevention. SunSmart have developed an online toolkit for health professionals and you can learn more about their ‘Don’t Let Cancer In’ campaign at sunsmart.com.au.
Health professional training and resources
Head to our health professionals' webpage for our online training and resource options and information on the Dermoscopy for Victorian General Practice Program – where GPs can apply to receive a fully subsidised dermatoscope and training in dermoscopy www.sunsmart.com.au/skin-cancer/health-professionals.