Two in Three: What the Odds on Skin Cancer Actually Mean
- Aug 6
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 13
How common is skin cancer in Australia?
Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the age of 70, according to Cancer Council Australia. It's one of the most quoted statistics in Australian public health, largely because it's true, and because it's rarely followed by a clear explanation of what to actually do about it.
How common is melanoma specifically?
Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is diagnosed in an estimated 16,800 Australians every year, roughly one person every 30 minutes, according to Melanoma Institute Australia. It's the most common cancer among Australians aged 20 to 39, and the second most common cancer in Australian men overall.
Why does early detection matter so much?
The reason early detection matters so much comes down to survival data. According to Cancer Australia's National Cancer Control Indicators, melanoma caught at an early, localised stage has a five-year survival rate of at least 99%. Once it has spread to distant parts of the body, that figure drops to around 26%. Melanoma Institute Australia puts it even more simply: if caught early, 90% of melanomas can be cured by surgery alone.
How SkinGP approaches early detection in the Macedon Ranges
At SkinGP Woodend, a Full Skin Check uses dermoscopy and FotoFinder total body photography to map and measure every part of your skin, with your results reviewed by our Accredited Skin Cancer Doctors. Most people who come in walk out with a clean bill of health. For those who don't, being seen early is the single biggest factor in how that story ends.
How to book a skin check in Woodend
You don't need a referral, and you don't need a reason. You can book directly via our website, and the clinic is open Monday to Friday in Woodend, in the heart of the Macedon Ranges.
Sources: Cancer Council Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia (Melanoma Facts); Cancer Australia, National Cancer Control Indicators (Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis, Melanoma).
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