New figures show melanoma most common cancer in young Queenslanders
8 January 2016
Around 110 melanomas are diagnosed in males aged under 35 each year, followed by 80 cases of testicular cancer, while around 140 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed in Queensland females under 35. Thyroid cancer is the second most common cancer in this group affecting more than 60 women each year.
Commenting on the statistics MIA’s Research Director Professor Graham Mann highlighted that sun and solarium exposure are the most common causes of melanoma in younger people.
“We must remember that melanoma rates are influenced by UV radiation exposure that has happened many years earlier, especially in the formative years. The variances we are seeing may be because of the way men and women have used sunbaking and solariums differently.
“Many teenage girls and young women deliberately sunbake and may not cover up with a hat or protective clothing, so maybe this is having an impact. Or possibly male-female biology may be a factor. But man or woman, pursuing that summer glow is a gamble and ultimately can cost you a lot more than it’s worth,” Professor Mann said.
The latest Queensland figures are based on 2012 data prior to the banning of sun beds.
“Fortunately commercial solariums have been banned since about 2014. This was partly because we’ve learned that, among people who used solariums, most of their melanomas before the age of 30 were due to sunbed use. Women were about twice as likely to use sunbeds as men were, and maybe that is also contributing to the different rates we are seeing,” Professor Mann added.
Queensland has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Around 3,000 melanoma and 133,000 non-melanoma skin cancers are diagnosed across the state each year.
You can read more on this story here.
Jay's Longest Melanoma March Trivia Night
Come and join us for a trivia night with Jay and his crew to raise funds for the ABC-X trial!
Cancer Council awards Melanoma Institute Australia researchers funding for ground-breaking cancer research projects
Almost $9 million of new funding was awarded to 13 ground-breaking cancer research projects at the 2019 Cancer Council NSW Research Awards.
Making a difference to many
Georgina V. Long is co-medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia and Chair of Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research. She is the first woman president of the Society for Melanoma Research.
Aussie icon Sophie Monk calls on Australians to get behind Melanoma March
Quintessential Aussie girl and media personality Sophie Monk has been announced as a National Ambassador for Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) and its national awareness and fundraising campaign, Melanoma March.
Melanoma breakthrough paves way for personalised treatment for all cancer patients
Australian researchers have for the first time identified specific cells and receptors in the immune system which predict how a patient will respond to treatment with immunotherapies, potentially paving the way for the development of personalised therapy for all cancer patients.
Melanoma March announces 2019 Principal Partner
Melanoma March is thrilled to introduce Ricky as our official Principal Partner for 2019!
Swimming champion Cate Campbell spearheads national campaign to save lives from melanoma
World record holder, Olympian and Australian swimming champion Cate Campbell has been announced as National Ambassador for Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) and its national awareness and fundraising campaign, Melanoma March.
MIA experts collaborate on groundbreaking research
MIA's expertise was essential to a recent Nature publication spearheaded by Perth’s Telethon Kids Institute and The University of Melbourne.
World-leading pathologist Associate Professor Michael Tetzlaff visits MIA
MIA is delighted to be hosting the MD Anderson pathologist on his first ever trip to Australia.
Possible PBS listing for dabrafenib and trametinib
Clinicians, patients and other stakeholders in the cancer community are invited to make submissions in support of the PBS listing for dabrafenib and trametinib.
Arden Anglican School wins SunSafe Ambassador competition
Three students from Arden Anglican School in Epping have won Melanoma Institute Australia’s (MIA) inaugural SunSafe Student Ambassador Award.
DON'T CLOUD THE SUN-SAFE MESSAGE
Mark Whittaker’s ‘Here comes the sun; Defending our summer rays’ (GW 24 Nov) clouds the sun-safe message – which could have disastrous consequences.
Professor Georgina Long named as one of world's most highly cited researchers
Professor Georgina Long is among only 12 researchers from the University of Sydney to be named in the 2018 Highly Cited Researchers List.
Aussies need to protect themselves from 'everyday' sun damage
‘Wearing sunscreen should be as automatic as wearing a seatbelt. Both are potential life savers.’
The Poche Centre to host 3D total-body imaging system as part of world-first initiative to save lives from melanoma
A prestigious $10 million Australian Cancer Research Foundation grant has been awarded to ACEMID, an initiative that aims to use 3D total-body imaging and a remote medicine network to improve the detection and diagnosis of early-stage melanoma.
Major award for world-leaders in melanoma research
Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer have been recognised as world leaders in melanoma research for their ground-breaking work that has changed the diagnosis and treatment landscape of melanoma world-wide, and tripled the life-expectancy of advanced melanoma patients.
Melanoma Institute Australia shines at prestigious Cancer Research Awards
Leading researchers from Melanoma Institute Australia have taken out the top accolades at the NSW Premier’s Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research.
Women of MIA lead the way in melanoma research at SMR
An impressive contingent of female delegates from Melanoma Institute Australia have presented findings across the whole spectrum of melanoma research at the Society for Melanoma Research 2018 Congress in Manchester, England.
Immune cell research presented at SMR
Over 800 researchers and clinicians from around the world were welcomed to Manchester for the 15th International Congress of the Society for Melanoma Research (SMR). Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) has again sent an impressive number of delegates to present both oral presentations and posters with the latest in translational research.
Professor Georgina Long makes history as the first woman and first Australian to lead the Society for Melanoma Research
Professor Georgina Long makes history as the first woman and first Australian to lead the world’s most prestigious international melanoma research association.