Early detection of skin cancer in Australia – current approaches and new opportunities

Abstract

The large health and financial impacts of skin cancer can be minimised through early detection • Concerns about the current unstructured approach to skin cancer early detection include variable quality of care, sociodemographic inequalities, excision of many benign lesions, overdiagnosis, gaps in workforce training, and health system inefficiencies • Australia is experiencing a changing landscape of skin cancer early detection, driven by increasing health system costs, advances in diagnostic technologies and artificial intelligence, validated riskstratification tools, and consumer-driven digital technologies

Stage IA melanoma follow‐up: Exploring the level of confidence of South Australian general practitioners in undertaking surveillance skin checks including considerations for shared care

“…21,22 This should also include current viewpoints on devices with integrated artificial intelligence algorithms. 23 Incorporating elements of digital dermoscopy and photography could T A B L E 2 Association between the likelihood of being comfortable performing annual surveillance skin checks for patients with a history of stage IA melanoma and explanatory variables and confidence questionnaire responses (three group analysis). further facilitate shared care and communicating lesions of concern which would particularly be useful for ruralbased GPs.…”

“…Current Australian research is underway to address these elements and those engaged in shared care of melanoma patients should remain up to date as new high-quality evidence may underpin changes to policy and practice in the early detection of skin cancers. 23…”

Skin cancer – time for national leadership to meet critical challenges ahead

“…Janda et al discuss these concerns, current approaches and new opportunities for the early detection of skin cancer in Australia, including those related to new technologies and personal risk assessment. 9 Unlike efforts to reduce other health risk factors -like tobacco, alcohol or unhealthy food and drinks -skin cancer prevention faces minimal Australian industry opposition. The path to sustained investment is not challenged by industry but, seemingly, our own complacency.…”

A dermoscopy training program for Victorian GPs to improve skin cancer prevention and detection

“…8 Dermoscopy is a skill that takes training and experience to improve diagnostic accuracy. 9 While the overarching landscape of skin cancer early detection in Australia is set out in detail elsewhere 10 , this report provides an overview of SunSmart's and ratified as a quality assurance activity exempt from ethical review.…”