Latest research reveals real cost of skin cancer in West Australia

A recently published economic evaluation of SunSmart WA’s programs has revealed their real-world impacts.

The study, published recently in Health Promotion International, found that over the next 20 years, the SunSmart WA program is expected to prevent 1000 deaths from melanoma, and save Governments over $650 million in avoided healthcare costs and productivity losses*. Additionally, over 13,000 melanomas are projected to be avoided, as well as 300,000 non-melanoma skin cancers.

The model devised by researchers from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and Curtin University took a societal perspective, with many factors considered including costs to the health system, patient numbers and lost productivity due to skin cancer. Data from various sources including trial evidence of sun protection, national cost reports and epidemiological studies was combined to model outcomes such as societal costs, skin cancer counts, and melanoma deaths.

Cancer Council WA Cancer Prevention and Research Director, Melissa Ledger, acknowledged that while it’s widely accepted that effective health promotion improves health outcomes, it was reassuring to see the empirical measurement of SunSmart WA’s success and future projections.

“Today we stop and celebrate 20 years of success for WA’s SunSmart program and the benefit our program will bring over the next 20 years with our funding partners Cancer Network WA and Healthway,” Ms Ledger said.

“For the WA Government, the estimated return on investment is $8.70 gained for every $1 invested. This equates to benefits of more than $166 million over 20 years.

“The results also make the case for increased and ongoing investment in a skin cancer prevention strategy to ensure skin cancer prevention is given the priority it deserves.

“Such a strategy needs to include a commitment to public education campaigns, plus targeted messages for higher-risk groups such as outdoor workers and young people, increased regulations for shade provision in public spaces and developments, and an investment in research and training for health professionals in early detection.

“We can’t be complacent; we need to see a coordinated and comprehensive approach to decreasing overexposure to UV to reduce the impact of skin cancers.”

Lead author and health economist Professor Louisa Collins emphasized the high cost of therapies for advanced stage melanoma, around $100,000 per patient, further highlighting the need for prevention.

“Skin cancer is the most common and expensive to treat of all cancers to our health system,” Prof Collins said.

“With increasing numbers of skin cancer, the healthcare costs of treating and managing skin cancers are expected to rise quickly.”

SunSmart WA aims to reduce the incidence of preventable skin cancers. These recently published findings form a sound basis to call on the WA government to:

• Build on the success of world-leading skin cancer prevention campaigns through increased and ongoing investment.
• Create safer environments for young people by supporting sun protection in secondary schools, sporting clubs and recreation venues.
• Support outdoor workers to prioritise sun protection by investing in innovative targeted campaigns and strategies.
• Incorporate shade provision in planning regulations for all new public facilities, open public spaces, and redevelopments.
• Increase access to tailored education for health professionals in skin cancer risk assessment, detection and management.
• Provide robust community monitoring and surveillance to measure the impact of policies and campaigns.

The study demonstrates that with further investment, more West Australians can avoid skin cancer. Detail on the full skin cancer prevention strategy is available here.

Two in three Australians will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and every year around 2000 people will die from this disease – but together, we can almost entirely prevent it. Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, and Slide to fight skin cancer with SunSmart WA.

*Based on skin cancer investment 2000-2020