Melanoma cancer rates down for younger Victorians, but still rising in over-55s

MELANOMA rates are declining in young Victorians but grooming and fashion trends are putting them at greater risk of skin cancer, researchers have warned.

MEN’S hair styles and women’s clothing choices are putting them at greater risk of melanoma, researchers have warned.

New research into the prevalence of the deadly ­cancer has found rates are declining in Victorians aged under 55 ­because they have heeded warning messages.

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But it found tumours in men were more likely to occur on the face, scalp and neck, which could be explained by their “grooming trends” and typically short hair.

The research, to be published today in the Medical Journal of Australia, also blamed fashion for the higher rate of melanoma on women’s arms and legs. It found women were “more likely to routinely expose more of their limbs more frequently”.

The research shows “invasive melanoma” is most common in men aged over 55.

Grooming and fashion trends are putting younger people at risk of skin cancer. Picture: Ian Currie

University of Sydney dermatologist and study co-author Dr Saxon Smith said the higher rates in men over 55 were because they were not as diligent in getting checked.

“We still need to have a ­significant role in reminding males over 55 to continue to get checked,” Dr Smith said. “We know males overall aren’t very good at looking after their own health, with everything from diabetes to cancer.”

Dr Smith said the decline in advanced forms of skin cancer in younger people was due to early detection and education campaigns.

“What this is showing is that we are picking up melanoma earlier and treating them,” he said. “If you catch melanoma before it becomes invasive, the patients have a much better prognosis.

“We need to identify those ugly ducklings — moles, freckles on the body, that could become cancerous.”

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The research, by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the University of Sydney and the Royal North Shore Hospital, examined melanoma rates in Victoria from 1985 to 2015. Figures showed 53,982 ­people were diagnosed with ­invasive melanoma tumours, with 42,351 cases detected early.

Cancer Council Victoria’s director for prevention, Craig Sinclair, said the positive ­results for young people were a reminder of the importance of sun safety campaigns such as “Slip! Slop! Slap!”

“We see this impact ­reflected every day by the number of schoolchildren in broadbrimmed hats, by the ­increased shade in our public parks and gardens, and by the strong public support we had that led to a ban on ­commercial solariums,” Mr Sinclair said.

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