Skin cancer screening of outdoor workers in Queensland

Douglas, Nicola C; Baillie, Laura; Soyer, H Peter

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2011.tb03225.x

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To the Editor: The Australian state of Queensland has one of the highest rates of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer in the world.1,2 Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the most important environmental risk factor,3 highlighting the need for sun safety education and skin cancer screening among outdoor workers in Queensland. Many such programs are currently in place, including the Sunsafe Workplace Program developed by the University of Queensland in collaboration with the Queensland Skin and Cancer Foundation in 2007.

Dermatology Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.

Correspondence: n.douglas@uq.edu.au

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer in Australia: an overview, 2008. Canberra: AIHW, 2008. (AIHW Cat. No. CAN 42; Cancer Series No. 46.)
2. Buettner PG, Raasch BA. Incidence rates of skin cancer in Townsville, Australia. Int J Cancer 1998; 78: 587-593.
3. Psaty EL, Scope A, Halpern AC, Marghoob AA. Defining the patient at high risk for melanoma. Int J Dermatol 2010; 49: 362-376.
4. Australian Cancer Network Melanoma Guidelines Revision Working Party. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of melanoma in Australia and New Zealand. Sydney: Cancer Council Australia and Australian Cancer Network; and Wellington: New Zealand Guidelines Group, 2008.

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