BREAKOUT OR BOX

Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.

More than 2000 Australians die every year from it.

Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70.

A LOCAL doctor has warned people that skin cancers in women under 40 years old are becoming more common.

Dr Dipankar Chakraborty at Wangaratta’s Aurora Skin Cancer Clinic highlighted that skin cancer is the silent killer so it’s important to get checked regularly.

“Once you get sunburnt, it is the beginning of skin cancer,” he warned.

“People are aware that UV exposure isn’t good for their skin but still go to tanning salon or bake themselves to get a tan.

“Also, skin cancer first symptoms are painless, that’s why patients postpone their checkup until it is sometimes too late.”

Dr Chakraborty said people should not die from skin cancer, because if it is detected and treated early, it is curable.

“This cancer is preventable, deaths from skin cancer are therefore preventable,” he said.

However, Dr Chakraborty said that skin cancers are becoming more and more common, especially for women under the age of 40.

“I was surprised and saddened by the increasing number of skin cancers among young people; I recently operated on a 17 year old from melanoma last week," Dr Chakraborty said.

“Skin cancer check ups should be compulsory, like diabetes or blood pressure check ups.

“They also should be financially accessible and covered by Medicare.

“Some 75 per cent of all melanomas are detected by patients themselves, patients should never delay a skin check up.”

Dr Chakraborty said it was important to educate people about how to prevent skin cancer, be aware of any problematic moles or skin lesion, and to go to their doctor as soon as something abnormal is detected.

“Skin cancer doesn’t happen overnight, from a young age we have to learn to avoid excessive UV exposition, even if sun tanning was encouraged by society and fashion,” he said.