Australia has the second highest rate of skin cancer diagnoses in the world, says the International Skin Cancer Index.
If you live in one country, do you have a higher chance of getting skin cancer than if you live in another? A study by Derma.plus says yes. And in Australia, frighteningly, we have one of the highest rates of the deadly disease in the world. Here’s what the study says:
The statistics are frightening
With skin cancer claiming a life every 10 minutes, it is no wonder that leading platform for dermatological advice , Derma.plus, has conducted an international study on skin cancer to better understand the geographical and socio-economic factors related to the disease.
“The incidence of both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers has increased dramatically over the past decades,” says Prof. Dietrick Abeck, Chief Medical Advisor for Derma.plus. “Worldwide, more than 3-million non-melanoma skin cancers and 150,000 melanoma skin cancers are diagnosed each year. One in every three cancers diagnosed is a skin cancer.”
The study highlights inequalities
The research makes two findings. Firstly, it highlights the inequalities in health care spending across the globe. Bangladesh for example has the lowest skin cancer prevalence per capita, however the amount spent on 300 skin cancer patients there is equal to the amount spent on one case in Norway. Secondly, the research found that skin cancer is more prevalent in developed countries. How is this so? It comes down to UV exposure and a higher prevalence of paler skin types, which combine to create an environment where skin cancer is more likely.
Australia isn’t ranking well (and neither is NZ)
The study looked into our collective skin cancer susceptibility and found that New Zealand is the nation with the highest incidence and likelihood of melanoma per capita, closely followed by Australia at number two, then Switzerland, Sweden and Norway. The US and the UK came in ninth and tenth place respectively, with Ireland close behind in fourteenth position.
The social problems are deadly
The study also looked into the socio-economics that play a part in the rate of health spending on the disease. It revealed that countries such as New Zealand and Australia, which have some of the highest incidences of skin cancer, also have some of the lowest death rates due to high levels of health spending, and good quality of life across society. On the flip-side Nigeria scored lowest due to higher societal inequalities and lower health spending, which, despite a low incidence of skin cancer diagnoses, leads to the country’s high mortality rate.
And sadly things are getting worse, not better
With death rates from the disease doubling since 1990 and the World Health Organization struggle to cope with the magnitude of cases and inequality of international medical care, clearly more needs to be done. What can we do right now? Encourage all your clients to slip, slop, slap and wrap 24/7, rain, hail, or shine. No Matter What.
For the full report head here.