Editorial: Prevention is the cure

OPINION: Our sun kills without fear or favour nearly 400 times a year.

In 2006, the most recent year for which figures are available, melanomas killed 287 people – up from 269 in 2005 and 244 in 2001.

In addition, another 102 people were killed by non-melanoma skin cancers.

New Zealand has higher skin cancer death rates than Australia – making us the unenviable world leaders. Skin cancers are the most common type of cancer diagnosed, with 70,000 new cases annually.

This week the Cancer Society released a report saying that skin cancer cost New Zealand at least $123 million a year.

Treatment of the mostly preventable disease cost the health system more than $57 million annually, with another $66 million for loss of life and productivity.

The study's author, Des O'Dea, a Wellington School of Medicine health economist, said the large number of cases was imposing a significant burden on the health system.

Associate Professor Marius Rademaker, a Waikato Hospital dermatologist, said people did not realise that non-melanoma skin cancers were also a serious problem, many assuming they could be easily cut out or removed.

Dr Judith Galtry, the society's skin cancer control adviser, said the report highlighted the need for increased commitment and funding to be given to skin cancer prevention and early detection initiatives. "Both the health system costs and individual costs involved are largely avoidable.

We know that skin cancer, including the sometimes deadly melanoma, is largely preventable," she said.

The society is concerned that the Government does not appear to be taking the issue of skin cancer control seriously enough – a fair point given O'Dea estimates that New Zealand spends only $2 million a year on preventative measures; half of that comes from the society.

It's a shameful situation. O'Dea refers to a recent Australian study that found a sustained investment in prevention programmes was potentially excellent value for money, not to mention the incalculable benefit of saving lives.

While the basics – avoiding work or play in the sun between 11am and 4pm (particularly in the summer months), wearing a good sunhat, long-sleeved shirts, pants and sunglasses and applying SPF30+ sunscreen – are down to us, there is somewhere Government money would make a difference: the cost of sunscreen.

For many families the cost is starting to become prohibitive.

The Cancer Society's own SPF30 brand, which is targeted to be cheaper than the market average, has a recommended retail of $24.95 for 375 millilitres and $11.95 for 100mls. More expensive brands can cost more than $40 for 375mls.

Galtry believes the price of sunscreen is a "real issue" that has to be addressed. She says there should be a discount provided through a Government subsidy, especially for children and those at high risk – the fair skinned.

"There is a huge case for subsidising ... because it's a very strong preventative," she told the Times. This is a disease where prevention truly is the cure.

- © Fairfax NZ News