WHEN John Denver wrote and sang Sunshine on My Shoulders he would never have envisaged how the sun’s rays would become a huge health issue decades later in Australia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Excessive sun exposure in younger years has left a legacy of skin cancer that is among the highest in the world.
One-in-12 Australian men will develop some type of the cancer and one-in-17 women. The prevalence is increasing.
It’s a result of fair skin genetics and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light with minimal protection.
Specialist surgeons like Warrnambool’s Robert Toma will be kept busy for years to come until the slip, slop, slap message pays dividends with an upcoming generation with less damaged skin.
Mr Toma performs 500 procedures a year on south-west residents aged from 30 through to old age with a large percentage of farmers and other outdoor workers.
“Skin cancer in later life relates to sun exposure as a kid — there were generations who sunbaked in coconut oil,” he told The Standard during an interview to mark National Skin Cancer Action Week.
“It’s very rare to see skin cancer in people under 30.
“There’s an exponential increase which peaks when people are in their 60s and 70s, particularly males.
“In country areas people delay getting checks and there are far more aggressive cancers because of this.”
New Cancer Council data released this week shows more than twice as many men over the age of 45 in rural Victoria are dying of melanoma than women. Men are also lagging in the use of sunscreen.
Mr Toma said the skin should be regarded as an important organ which needed protection and regular medical checks like other parts of the body. “In the first instance people should look for changes in colour, itching and bleeding and at least once a year get a check-up,” he said.
“For anyone over 50, that should be mandatory.
“Skin-type genetics and Australia’s scorching environment are major factors.
“Even with people coming here from other countries like the US where there are lower skin cancer rates, their incidence matches the general Australian population within five years.”
As well as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, there are up to 30 other types of skin cancer which could be highly malignant.
“If you’ve had one skin cancer the chances of getting more is 36 per cent,” he warned.
“Most people now are heeding the message to put a hat on and cover up, except for a few belligerent people.”
