Skin Cancer

Why Skin Cancer Matters Here

New Zealand and Australia have the highest rates of melanoma in the world, and New Zealand has the highest melanoma death rate of any country. Around 3,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with invasive melanoma each year and around 300 die from it. Thousands more are diagnosed with melanoma in situ, the earliest and most treatable stage, and around 90,000 other skin cancers are treated here annually.

The encouraging part is that most skin cancer is preventable, and melanoma found early is usually curable. Thickness at the time of diagnosis matters more than almost anything else: melanomas caught while still 1mm thick or less have a ten-year survival rate of up to 92 percent, compared with about 50 percent for those thicker than 4mm. Finding a spot sooner genuinely changes the outcome.

When You Need Sun Protection

In New Zealand the sun is strong enough to damage skin from September to April, especially between 10am and 4pm. The official advice is to protect yourself whenever the UV Index is 3 or above. In midsummer the index here typically peaks around 12, and higher again in the Far North — at that strength unprotected skin can start to burn in about 12 minutes.

You cannot see or feel UV, and it has nothing to do with temperature. It passes through cloud and reflects off water, sand and concrete, which is why a cool or overcast day still burns people. Between May and August UV levels are generally low, and a sensible amount of sun in those months helps maintain vitamin D.

Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap

Checking Your Own Skin

Look over your whole body every few months, in good light, using a mirror or a family member for your back, scalp and the backs of your legs. Melanoma can appear on skin that rarely sees the sun, so check everywhere. The ABCDE guide describes what to look for.

A useful shortcut is the “ugly duckling” rule: most of your moles tend to resemble one another, so the one that stands out from the crowd deserves a closer look. It can stand out in either direction — a single dark mole among lighter ones, or a single pale one among darker ones.

One important exception: raised, fast-growing nodular melanomas often break the ABCDE pattern entirely. Any lump that is elevated, firm to the touch and growing over a few weeks should be seen promptly, whatever its colour or shape. And be aware these are guides rather than tests — some harmless spots tick several boxes, and some melanomas tick none. If a spot is bothering you, have it checked.

Who Is at Higher Risk

Risk is not confined to fair skin. Everyone can be harmed by UV, whatever their skin colour. Melanoma is less common in brown and black skin, but it is more often found late, so self-checks are worth doing regardless of how easily you burn.

Myths Worth Retiring

When to See a Doctor

Make an appointment if you notice a new spot that appears after the age of 40, a mole that changes over weeks or months, a spot that looks different from all your others, a sore that has not healed within six weeks, or any lump that is firm and growing. Do not wait for a routine check-up to raise it.

Our dermatology service provides skin cancer screening and mole checks, and Dr. Fatima Nur, our dermatologist, can examine anything that concerns you. Most spots turn out to be harmless, and having one looked at takes only a few minutes.