Skin cancer facts & stats

• Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70.¹
• About 2,000 Australians die from skin cancer each year.²
• Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.³
• Medicare records show there were over a million treatments for squamous and basal cell carcinoma skin cancers in 2018 – that’s more than 100 skin cancer treatments every hour.
• Basal and squamous cell carcinoma skin cancers accounted for one quarter of all cancer-related hospitalisations in 2014–15.⁴ The cost to the health system of these skin cancers alone is estimated to be more than $700 million annually. The costs to the Federal Government and the community from basal and squamous cell carcinomas are predicted to continue to increase in the future.⁵
• In 2018, 3,097 Victorians were diagnosed with melanoma and 291 lost their lives to it.⁶
• It is estimated that approximately 200 melanomas and 34,000 other skin cancer types per year are caused by occupational exposures in Australia.⁷

For more information visit Cancer Council’s Skin Cancer Statistics & Issues.

Position statements

Cancer Council Australia’s Skin Cancer Committee has developed a number of position statements addressing common myths and misunderstandings and providing clear information and advice aimed at helping Australians reduce their skin cancer risk. Many of the statements have been developed with input from other expert health organisations, particularly the Australasian College of Dermatologists.

These include:

• Eye protection
• Fake tans
• Risks and benefits of sun exposure
• Screening and early detection of skin cancer
• Private solariums
• Sunscreen
• Sun protection and infants (0–12 months)
• Sun protection in the workplace
• Tinted windows

References

1. Staples MP, Elwood M, Burton RC, Williams JL, Marks R, Giles GG. Non-melanoma skin cancer in Australia: the 2002 national survey and trends since 1985. Med J Aust. 2006;184(1):6–10.
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Causes of Death, Australia, 2017.  Vol. 3303.0. Australian Bureau of Statistics: Canberra, Australia, 2018.
3. Ferlay J, Soerjomatram I, Ervik M, Dikshit R, Eser S, Mathers C, Rebelo M, Parkin D, Forman D, Bray F. GLOBOCAN 2012 v1.0, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC CancerBase No. 11. IARC, World Health Organisation, 2013.
4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.  Cancer in Australia 2017. Cancer Series no.101. Cat.no. CAN 100. AIHW: Canberra, Australia, 2017.
5. Fransen M, Karahalios A, Sharma N, English DR, Giles GG, Sinclair RD. Non-melanoma skin cancer in Australia. Med J Aust. 2012;197(10):565–8.
6. Victorian Cancer Registry. Cancer in Victoria: Statistics & Trends 2018 Cancer Council Victoria: Melbourne, Victoria, 2019. Available from: www.cancervic.org.au/downloads/cec/cancer-in-vic/Cancer-in-Victoria-2018.pdf.
7. Fritschi L, Driscoll T. Cancer due to occupation in Australia. Aust N Z Public Health. 2006;30(3):213–9