Skin Cancer Control Western Australia: Is it Working and What Have we Learned?

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Abstract
Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with malignant melanoma rates in Western Australia second only to the state of Queensland. The Cancer Foundation of Western Australia has been actively involved in skin cancer control programmes for almost 20 years. The evaluation of skin cancer campaigns run by the Foundation over the past 5 years, including evaluation data from the summer 1998/99 campaign, is reported. Secondly, the reduction of age standardised rates of melanoma now being witnessed in Western Australia are reported. From these data arises the question - is it too early to claim that public health measures have contributed to this recent reduction in melanoma rates in Western Australia? Finally, a summary is presented of lessons learned about the historical process of conducting skin cancer control programmes. While there is debate about the specific impact in terms of skin cancer incidence rates, there is no doubt our programmes have changed the way Australians perceive, and behave, in the sun.

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