What is melanoma?

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer and grows very quickly if left untreated. It can spread to the lower part of your skin (dermis), enter the lymphatic system or bloodstream and then spread to other parts of the body e.g. lungs, liver, brain or bone.

What causes melanoma?

The main preventable cause of melanoma is overexposure to UV radiation from the sun. There are many risk factors that increase the chances of melanoma, including people with fair skin, a high mole count, family history and a pattern of sunburns throughout life, especially during childhood.

The scary truth !!!!

• Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world, and melanoma is often referred to as 'Australia's national cancer'.

• In 2020, it is expected that there will be 15,229 diagnoses of melanoma of the skin, close to one diagnosis every half hour.

• Melanoma is the third most common cancer in Australian men, after prostate and colorectal cancer.

• Melanoma is the third most common cancer in Australian women, after breast and colorectal cancer.

• Melanoma is the most common cancer affecting 15 to 39-year-old Australians.

• Melanoma rates are on the increase , in Australia and globally.

• In 2020, it is predicted that there will be 1,726 deaths from melanoma of the skin; that is one Australian every five hours.