Local government areas on the Northern Rivers account for eight of the top ten areas with the state’s highest rates of melanoma.
Ballina, Lismore, Byron, the Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour local government areas have the state’s highest rates of melanoma according to the Cancer Institute’s newly released melanoma hotspot map.
Nearly 350 cases are projected to be diagnosed in those areas in 2024.
Tweed, Kempsey and the Richmond Valley are also in the state’s top ten melanoma hotspots.
Melanoma is one of the most common cancers among young Australians and the third most diagnosed cancer in NSW, the institute says.
It’s also the most serious form of skin cancer, and is projected to kill nearly 500 people across NSW this year.
Skin cancer killing more Aussies than any other
Earlier this year the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that skin cancer was killing more Australians than all other cancers combined.
Recent research discussed by the ABC’s Dr Norman Swan also shows non-malignant skin cancers can be just as deadly.
Ninety-five per cent of melanoma and 99 per cent of non-melanoma skin cancers are caused by overexposure to UV radiation from the sun and can be prevented with proper sun protection.
The top 25 NSW LGAs for melanoma incidence are as follows:
1 Ballina
2 Lismore
3 Byron
4 Clarence Valley
5 Coffs Harbour
6 Sutherland Shire
7 Port Macquarie-Hastings
8 Tweed
9 Kempsey
10 Richmond Valley
11 Nambucca Valley
12 Kiama
13 Port Stephens
14 Bathurst Regional
15 Mid-Coast
16 Lake Macquarie
17 Mosman
18 Mid-Western Regional
19 Northern Beaches
20 Shoalhaven
21 Cessnock
22 Wagga Wagga
23 Central Coast
24 Wingecarribee
25 Newcastle
More information on how to reduce your risk of skin cancer is available on the Cancer Institute NSW website.
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