Twice as many Victorian men over 45 die from melanoma than women of the same age, according to new figures from the Cancer Council of Victoria.
The council’s cancer protection director, Craig Sinclair, said the figures were an alarming sign that men were taking less care to protect their skin from the sun.
“We know men are less likely to use sunscreen, less likely to wear sun-protective clothing or seek shade,” Mr Sinclair said.
“We also know men are less likely to seek advice from their doctor, which means the skin cancers are more likely to be detected at a later stage when treatment is more difficult.”
Each year 1,119 Victorian men were diagnosed with a melanoma and 217 of them would not survive the disease.
Mr Sinclair said part of the reason was because men dominate outdoor labour work, meaning many were doubling their risk by increasing their exposure while failing to protect themselves in the sun.
“Employers have a responsibility to ensure their workers are well protected – particularly when we understand the relationship between UV exposure and the risk of melanoma,” he said.
For indoor workers, Mr Sinclair said Cancer Council Victoria found exposure to the sun was often done in shorter but more intense bursts.
“We know the very simple measures of wearing hats, sunscreen and protective clothing has a significant impact on reducing risk,” he said.
“We know if melanomas are detected and treated early then the chance of survival is very high.”
Monitoring skin spots for any change in shape, size or colour, and seeking medical attention are the best ways to identify a melanoma.