Skin deep more information

Most Australians are aware of the dangers of skin cancer, and many have seen the advertisements for melanomas, the most aggressive form of skin cancer. But what most people don’t know is that melanomas are in the minority when it comes to skin cancers. Far more common are a group of cancers called "non-melanoma skin cancers" and, while they haven’t got the same fatality rates as melanomas, they can cause major disfigurement in patients and take a substantial chunk out of the nation’s health budget.

There are more than a million GP consultations every year for "non-melanomas", which can often start off as just a small scaly patch of skin and, left untreated, can burrow into the body. Initial treatments can be quite simple, and can range from the application of a cream, freezing, laser, and combination therapies. If left untreated, major surgery or death can follow.

Sunday Night's Mike Munro has had these cancers himself, and we follow his new treatment through its various stages and talk to victims – young and old – of the non-melanoma epidemic. For more information, you can visit these sites:

Cancer Council’s SunSmart website: http://www.cancer.org.au/sunsmart

Australasian College of Dermatologists: http://www.dermcoll.asn.au/

Click on the following links for more information on the organisations that featured in Sunday Night's
story, Skin Deep:

Skin and Cancer Foundation Australia: http://www.skin.com.au

Neutral Bay Laser and Dermatology Clinic: http://www.laser-clinic.net/skin_cancers.php

The skin treatment Mike Munro used during the filming of this story was Photo Dynamic Therapy. Talk to your skin doctor about this type of treatment and the different creams that can be used. Mike Munro had to choose the more expensive cream that would heal his face faster due to work commitments. However there are cheaper options if you are willing to have a red face for a longer period of time.

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