Did you know?
- Skin cancers (including melanoma) are the most common cancers affecting both women and men in Western Australia.
- In 2019, 953 Western Australian men and 681 Western Australian women were diagnosed with melanoma.
- The majority (55-70%) of melanomas are detected by patients themselves, or their partners.
Common symptoms of skin cancer include:
- A new spot or mole on your skin that is red, pale or pearly in colour
- A spot that is different from other spots on your skin
- Any crusty or non-healing sores
- Any spots, freckles or any moles changing in size (width), thickness (height), colour, or shape
Get to know your skin and what’s normal for you, particularly if you’re over 40 years of age. If you notice any of these symptoms or any other unusual changes tell your doctor, clinic nurse or Aboriginal health worker. It doesn’t mean you’ve got skin cancer – often they turn out to be something less serious. But it’s important to get checked.
If it is skin cancer, the earlier it’s found, the greater the chance of successful treatment.
For further information on symptoms related to other types of cancers, please click here.
How to check your own skin
Visit the MyUV website to learn how to complete a simple 15 minute skin check at home.
