Skin cancer GPs have backed a call by the Melanoma Institute of Australia at the National Press Club today for urgent action to prevent Australians dying from melanoma.
Skin Cancer College Australasia CEO Lynette Hunt said it was critical that investment in Australian melanoma research be increased and the country’s national melanoma prevention and awareness strategy was updated to help prevent another 205,000 Australians from being diagnosed with the potentially deadly condition by 2030.
“The Melanoma Institute’s five-point action plan to end melanoma is based on sound evidence and world-leading research into skin cancer in Australians,’’ Ms Hunt said.
“Improving early detection, changing attitudes toward sunburn and sunscreen use and gathering more evidence for a national screening program are the urgent actions required to prevent a further 14,000 Australians from dying from this disease by 2030.’’ Lynette Hunt
Ms Hunt said it was critical that standards of diagnosis and treatment for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers were consistent across the country.
“Despite our best efforts in skin cancer prevention, more and more Australians are going to be presenting with more and more skin cancers in coming years. Early detection and treatment remains the most effective way to prevent unnecessary death from skin cancer as well as ballooning costs to the health care system.”
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Ms Hunt said it was critical that more GPs were trained in contemporary detection and treatment techniques to manage the growing skin cancer burden in the Australian population. But at the same time consumers needed to be confident in the qualifications of their practitioner to diagnose and manage the disease.
“An accreditation and standards system is urgently needed for GPs so that consumers can easily identify the qualifications of their practitioner and be confident that the practice those doctors work within adheres to robust national standards,’’ she said.
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“Skilling up a workforce of general practitioners, together with encouraging early detection, remains the most cost-effective way of addressing rising rates of skin cancers in the Australian population,” said Ms Hunt.
THE STATE OF THE NATION – A Report into Melanoma – A National Health Priority.
Five-point Action Plan for Ending Melanoma Mortality:
1. A greater investment in Australia’s world leading melanoma research
2. Implementation of a modernised national prevention and awareness strategy
3. Improve early detection and evidence for a national screening program
4. Reduce variation in diagnosis and treatment
5. Establish a model for the growing supportive care and survivorship needs
Source: Melanoma Institute Australia