Fewer younger but more older Aussies getting non-melanoma skin cancers

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-05-20 16:00

Australia; QLD

What does this mean?

Jump to: MultimediaAttachmentsExpert Reaction

Australian researchers looked at data covering Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) claims for procedures related to the diagnosis and treatment of keratinocyte (non-melanoma) skin cancer in Australia between 2012 and 2021, and say rates of treatment of younger Australians have continued a decline seen in earlier research that looked at data between 2000 and 2011. But treatment rates increased overall, because of increases in men aged 65 and above and in women aged 55 and above. The team says it's not clear why rates are dropping among the young, but it's possible changes in lifestyle and public health campaigns warning of the dangers of sun exposure may be at least partly responsible. They also point to the increase in the proportion of young Aussies whose families are migrants from populations that are less susceptible to skin cancers as a possible factor.