Skin Cancer in Australia Compared To Other Countries

 

skin cancer in australia compared to other countries

Skin cancer is a condition that arises from the abnormal growth of skin cells due to exposure of the skin to the sun, although many studies reported that sunscreen causes cancer. This common form of cancer can also occur on areas of your skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight. There are three major types of skin cancer namely:

– Squamous cell carcinoma  also referred to as  squamous-cell skin cancer (SCC)

– Basal cell carcinoma also referred to as   basal-cell skin cancer (BCC),

– Melanoma

Globally, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer accounting for about 40% of cases. The most prevalent type is non-melanoma skin cancer(80% are basal-cell cancers and 20% squamous-cell skin cancers), which occurs in at least 2-3 million people per year. Non-melanoma skin cancer rarely results in death.

Why is Skin Cancer More common In Australia and New Zealand?

Australia and New Zealand have the highest rates of melanoma in the world. The three main types of skin cancer have become more common in the last 20 to 40 years, especially in areas that are mostly Caucasian. According to the Cancer Council Of Australia, approximately, two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they are 70, with more than 750,000 people treated for one or more non-melanoma skin cancers in Australia each year. Non-melanoma skin cancer is more common in men, with almost double the incidence compared to women.

Australia has a confluence of factors that put the population at prime risk for developing skin cancer the causes of skin cancer in Australia and New Zealand include:

Location of the countries

According to a study Where on Earth has the highest UV, ultraviolet intensities in the New Zealand summer are extreme on the international UV Index scale. The problem with Australia is that the continent receives higher UV radiation levels than Europe. “Being located close to the ozone hole over the Antarctic means that much higher, more severe levels of UV radiation get through to ground level  ( average of about 246 days of sunshine) This means more damaging UV radiation coming through the atmosphere, creating a high UV Index and causing harm to unprotected skin.

Lifestyle of the people

Many in Australia and New Zealand enjoy active, outdoor lifestyles. Outdoor sports and activities such as water sports, gardening, and beach days are quite common which is a healthy lifestyle by all standards. However, spending more time outdoor also exposes the skin to more damaging UV radiation. In addition, it is a common cultural preference for people to tan their skin this encourages harmful tanning practices within the population. See: Alternative Cancer Treatment In Nigeria

The Predominant Type of Skin

Another major reason why skin cancer rates are so high in Australia is the large proportion of fair-skinned people living in the region. The descendants of British and European colonists who came to Australia in the late 18th century are living in an environment to which their skin is not well adapted to. Light skin contains less melanin, our body’s natural protection from UV radiation. This makes them more vulnerable to developing skin cancer. Aboriginal Australians rarely develop skin cancers. See: Breast Cancer NGO In Nigeria

Skin Cancer in Australia Compared To Other Countries

Australia – An estimated 134,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia this year, with that number set to rise to 150,000 by 2020.

New Zealand -New skin cancers total about 67,000 per year, compared to a total of 16 000 for all other types of cancer. Skin cancer rates in New Zealand are the highest in the world. The incidence of melanoma in New Zealand and Australia is around four times higher than in Canada, the US, and the UK.

United States – More than 1 million cases are diagnosed each year, and according to current estimates, 40 to 50 percent of Americans will have skin cancer at least once by the time they are age 65.

Canada –  Over 80,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Canada each year, more than 5,000 of which are melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. READ: 10  Photodermatitis Home Remedies You Should Try

Germany – The Robert Koch Institute forecast around 20 000 new cases of malignant melanoma for 2014. In addition, 150 000 new cases of basal cell carcinoma and 37 000 of squamous cell carcinoma were expected. This is a total of at least 200 000 new cancers.

United Kingdom – Incidence rates for melanoma skin cancer are projected to rise by 7% in the UK between 2014 and 2035, to 32 cases per 100,000 people by 2035. 1 in 54 people will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer during their lifetime.

 

South Africa – Skin cancer is the most common cancer in South Africa with about 20 000 reported cases every year and 700 deaths. The three most common types of cancers in the country are still basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and malignant melanoma. SEE:  Stage 4 Lung Cancer Life Expectancy Without Treatment

 

 

Dr Otorkpa
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Sunscreen Causes Cancer : Facts vs Fiction Sunscreen, also known as sunblock, sun cream or suntan lotion, is a lotion, spray, gel or other topical products that absorbs or reflects some of the sun's ultraviolet radiation and thus helps protect against sunburn. Skin cancer on the other hand is a condition that arises from the abnormal growth of skin cells due to exposure of the skin to the sun. This common form of cancer can also occur on areas of your skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight. There are three major types of skin cancer namely: - Squamous cell carcinoma also referred to as squamous-cell skin cancer (SCC) - Basal cell carcinoma also referred to as basal-cell skin cancer (BCC), - Melanoma Globally ,skin cancer are the most common form of cancer accounting for about 40% of cases. The most prevalent type is non melanoma skin cancer(80% are basal-cell cancers and 20% squamous-cell skin cancers), which occurs in at least 2-3 million people per year. Non melanoma skin cancer rarely result in death. Does Sunscreen Cause Cancer? Avobenzone is an oil-soluble ingredient used in sunscreen products to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays. A new study published in the Chemosphere Journal, reported that avobenzone can break down when exposed to a combination of light and chlorinated water, such as in a swimming pool and it can degrade into some very harmful compounds, some of which are known to cause cancer. According to Dr. Abigail Waldman, Brigham and Women’s Dermatologist, “Anytime you put on a sunscreen or a lotion, it can react with chlorine and byproducts can form, which are chlorinated byproducts that can potentially be harmful and whether that's on your skin initially or it's floating in the pool and you get exposed, those are two main ways of having exposure,” Another angle many public health specialists are looking at is vitamin D deficiency which currently affects about 90% of the world’s population because the majority of individuals are not receiving healthy amounts of sun exposure. Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with an elevated risk of nearly all types of cancers such as skin cancer as well as autoimmune and cardiovascular disease. A double-blind, randomized trial on sunscreen use and duration of sun exposure published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, reported that In epidemiologic studies, sunscreen use is associated with increased risk of cutaneous melanoma, basal cell skin cancer, and higher numbers of nevi. However, another study on the efficacy of daily sunscreen application and betacarotene supplementation in prevention of basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin published in the Lancet reported that regular daily use of an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen reduces the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by about 40 percent. But the study also noted that the use of sunscreens on the skin can prevent sunburn but whether long-term use can prevent skin cancer is not known. Also, there is evidence that oral betacarotene supplementation lowers skin-cancer rates in animals, but there is limited evidence of its effect in human beings. Over ten years ago, the FDA admitted that they “are not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancer.” The International Agency for Research on Cancer an intergovernmental agency of the World Health Organization charged with the responsibility of conducting and coordinating research into the causes of cancer recommends that finding shade and using proper clothing articles such as hats should be the first barriers for UV radiation exposure. The agency also emphasized that “sunscreens should NOT be the first choice for skin cancer prevention and should not be used as the sole agent for protection against the sun.”Sunscreen Causes Cancer : Facts vs Fiction What Blood Pressure Pills Cause CancerWhat Blood Pressure Pills Cause Cancer? Stage-4-Lung-Cancer-Life-Expectancy-Without-TreatmentStage 4 Lung Cancer Life Expectancy Without Treatment Opdivo Package InsertOpdivo (Nivolumab) Package Insert
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