DEATHS from non-melanoma skin cancers have nearly doubled in Australia since 2000, with new research from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) revealing a hidden danger.
Most fatalities are linked to a high-risk form of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), often found on sun-exposed areas of the head and neck and typically treated with local removal.
Published in Pathology, the study's findings showed non-melanoma skin cancer deaths rose from 400 annually in 2001 to almost 800 in 2021.
Study lead Dr Andrew Dettrick, Sunshine Coast Health pathologist, stressed the urgency of addressing non-melanoma skin cancers.
"Non-melanoma skin cancer is often trivialised due to its high prevalence and generally easy treatment," he said.
"However, a subset of SCC carries a high risk of metastasis and death."
Dr Dettrick called for improved definitions, diagnostics, and treatment management to prevent cancer spread.
"While most patients have excellent prognoses, with cure rates of 91-95% following localised removal, outcomes worsen significantly once the cancer advances," he noted.
UniSC's Dr Rebecca Donkin highlighted the study's potential impact on patient outcomes, which will help clinicians to identify high-risk incidences early and enhance disease management and survival rates.
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