TRENDS IN THE INCIDENCE OF NON-MELANOCYTIC SKIN-CANCER (NMSC) TREATEDIN AUSTRALIA 1985-1995 - ARE PRIMARY PREVENTION PROGRAMS STARTING TO HAVE AN EFFECT
M. Staples et al., TRENDS IN THE INCIDENCE OF NON-MELANOCYTIC SKIN-CANCER (NMSC) TREATEDIN AUSTRALIA 1985-1995 - ARE PRIMARY PREVENTION PROGRAMS STARTING TO HAVE AN EFFECT, International journal of cancer, 78(2), 1998, pp. 144-148
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.