TRENDS IN THE INCIDENCE OF NON-MELANOCYTIC SKIN-CANCER (NMSC) TREATEDIN AUSTRALIA 1985-1995 - ARE PRIMARY PREVENTION PROGRAMS STARTING TO HAVE AN EFFECT

cancer in Australia, but data on its incidence are not routinely colle cted by cancer registries. National surveys were conducted in 1985, 19 90 and 1995 to estimate NMSC incidence. Trends in incidence between 19 85 and 1995 have been examined to determine the impact of primary prev ention campaigns aimed at controlling skin cancer in Australia. Nation al random household surveys of Australians aged over 13 years were use d to estimate NMSC incidence in 1985, 1990 and 1995, Age- and sex-spec ific rates by survey year were modelled using Poisson regression. Basa l cell carcinoma (BCC) rates in 1995 were 788 per 100,000, an increase of 19% since 1985, Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) rates rose by 93% ov er the same period, from 166 to 321 per 100,000, The ratio of BCC:SCC changed from 4:1 in 1985 to 2.5:1 in 1995. BCC rates in latitudes <29 degrees S remained at about 3 times those in latitudes >37 degrees S o ver the decade, The ratio of SCC incidence between these latitudes cha nged from around 7:1 to 3:1 over the same period. Although NMSC incide nce rates continue to rise, there have been reductions in BCC observed in younger age groups. Incidence rates of NMSC continue to rise in Au stralia, but there is evidence of a reduction in BCC incidence in youn ger cohorts. This is evidence that public health campaigns to reduce s un exposure may be having a beneficial effect on skin cancer rates. (C ) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.