Epidemiological Analysis: Skin Cancer Trends in Australia (1954-2014)

This report provides an epidemiological analysis of skin cancer trends in Australia, comparing data from 1954 to 2014. It examines changes in mortality rates, incidence, and population demographics, highlighting the rise in skin cancer cases and associated deaths over the years. The analysis includes a breakdown by gender and age groups, revealing that the elderly population and males are disproportionately affected. The report also discusses the impact of sun exposure, particularly UV light, as a primary cause of skin cancer. It concludes with recommendations for increased awareness, early detection, and preventive strategies, aligning with the current focus on public health campaigns in Australia. The data indicates a significant increase in skin cancer cases, especially among the middle-aged population, but with the highest death rates among the elderly. The report emphasizes the need for regular skin checks and prompt medical attention, while also recognizing the importance of current treatments such as surgery and topical treatments. The report uses data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to support the findings.

Epidemiology for Practice
(PHCA3511)
University
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Tutor
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Introduction
Skin cancer results from damage of cells due to overexposure of ultraviolet light. Two
main types of cancer are melanoma and non-melanoma. Skin melanoma is the most occurring
cancer in both women n and men. In the year 2018, there were estimates of 300,000 cases.
Skin cancer has a particular challenge in estimating the overall occurrence of cancer among
women and men (Rogers, Weinstock, Feldman & Coldiron, 2015). In Australia, skin cancer
kills over 2000 each year while more than 750,000 persons are diagnosed and treated yearly.
The training process has been embedded in Australian culture. There has been relative
campaigns and success regarding skin cancer prevention strategies (Apalla, 2017).
Skin cancer often presents in three distinct forms, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell
carcinoma, and melanoma. The most common prevalent forms entail basal cell carcinoma
and squamous cell carcinoma. Nonmelanoma cancers have been associated with lower death
rates while melanomas have been linked to high death rates. New Zealand and Australia
share the highest rates of melanoma diagnosis and nonmelanoma carcinomas (Furnesss,
Climstein, Hing & Walsh, 2016).
There has been an increased mortality trend of melanoma since the 1950s continue
increasingly over the years. Currently, Australia has the highest level of melanoma-related
fatalities. The rise of preventive campaigns related to the transition of reduced mortality rates
of melanoma mortality has been observed. Campaign on sun protection, early detection and
increased public campaign to raise awareness has been undertaken (Shih, Carter, Heward &
Sinclair, 2017).
Currently, health care awareness is the key tools in ensuring that skin cancers are
avoided based on effective prevention. The overall standards of skin cancer screening in
undertake through self-assessment and occasional screening (Iannacone et al., 2016).
This report highlights the trends of skin cancer from two periods of history. The
analysis assesses epidemiological trends of 1954 and 2014 in Australia health care history.
The key interpretation will highlight differential analysis based on different parameters of the
Australian population (Perera et al., 2015).

Epidemiology trends of skin cancer between 1954 and 2014
The trends of skin cancer in Australia between the two periods reflect tremendous
changes in the progression of cancer development. Among men, in the year 1954, there were
157 cases of deaths while in 2014, there were 1,379 deaths nearly 10 fold increase. In a crude
rate assessment per 100,000 persons, there was an increase of about 4 times to 11.3 from 3.5.
Age standards rates per 100,000 showed that the WHO assessment standard in 1954 was 4.0
while in 2014 was 7.3. The mean age for death in years observed had increased from 61.9
years to 72.7 years. The total PYLL before age 75 was 2,373 in 1954 while in 2014 was
9,067.
Gender variation showed that crude death rate for female gender per 100,000 was 125
in 1954 while in 2014 there was about 6 fold increase to 688. The mean age of death in years
was observed to be 639. Years in 1954 compared to 73.3 years in 2014. Potential years of life
lost before age 75 was observed to 1,763 in 1954 compared to 5,032 in 2014.
Deaths according to differential age brackets showed that among males, skin cancer
trends is higher among those aged 85 years and above in 2014 compared to 13 in 1954, while
in general in 2014, there were 1,379 death cases of skin cancer compared to 157 in 1954.
Among females, there was a slightly lower prevalence rate. Among those aged 85 years and
above, 200 had skin cancer deaths compared to 22 in 1954. In general, there were 688 cases
of skin cancer among women in 2014 compared to 125 in 1954.
Death rates per 100, 000 populations showed that the younger population had lower or
minimal death rates compared to the growing elderly population. Among the elderly aged 85
years above, in 2014, there was 168.3 death rate per 100,000 compared to 92.9 in 1954
among males. Among females, the death rates seem to increase based on increasing age.
Among females aged 85 years and above, there were 68.9 death rates per 100,000 compared
to 98.2 death rates per 100,000 a decline from the previous year in 1954. This is an
interesting aspect as the death rate for male’s increases with time and age, those of females
seems to deal with time-based on the advanced age state.
Based on population prevalence levels, the general population having skin cancer is
high and generally affects the middle ages. In 1954, males aged between 0-4 years had the
highest cases of skin cancer at 498,000 cases while in 2014, there were high cases of cancer
among those aged between 25-29 years with an estimate of 884,573 of the population having

skin cancer. As age advances among the males, so do the rates of cancer cases decline,
among the females, similarly as males, the highest cases of skin cancer in 1954 was noted
among those aged 0-4 years while in 1954 those aged between 50-54 years had the highest
cases of 791,149 cases. In the general population, there were higher cases of cancer in 2014
with 23.5 million of the population having skin cancer compared to 8.9 million cases in 1954.
The statistics observed in these two periods’ shows that cancer affects the general
population making Australia have high cases of skin cancer compared to the general global
population. Cancer cases are high especially from the young ages of 0 years to below age 60
years. Conspicuously, there are high death rate trends among the elderly population above 85
years associated with skin cancer in the general population. Further, there is a high number of
potential years of life lost in 2014 compared to the year 1954.
Furthermore from the data above it shows that higher population of males are affected
by skin cancer compared to that female gender. Majority of cases of cancer affects males in
terms of deaths, rates and population-wise. More males are vulnerable to skin cancer
compared to females. Australians statistics have trends compared to World Health
organization rates and other global rates of cancer cases. There are high cases of cancer
deaths especially among those aged 85 years in both genders signifying higher trends,
incidence rates, and death rates compared to the global population state.
This signifies that the major cause of skin cancer being UV light exposure. It is
attributed to cause about 95% of melanoma which are the deadly forms of skin cancer. As
observed, it is estimated that 1 in 8 adults and 1 in 5 teenagers are affected by sunburns every
summer weekend. Majority of the population often gets exposed to sunburns whiles taking
part in sports activities, during gardening activities and barbeque occasions. Sun exposures
which do not cause burning is a precipitate of causing cancer damaging the skin cells and
increasing the overall risks of developing skin cancer in the population. Evidence shows that
regular exposure to UV radiation yearly basis leads to the development of skin cancer.
Conclusion
Skin cancer prevalence, incidences, and death rates have risen in the past years
compared to trends observed in 1954. There has been an increasing trend of cases having skin
cancer in Australia in the previous years compared to the year 1954. Majority of the middle-
age population have skin cancer compared to the elderly population. However, despite this,

there are highest levels of cancer death cases among those aged 85 years and above across the
population state. Further, the trends of potential years of life lost on skin cancer have
continued to increase when the two years are compared in unison. Despite this, the male
gender is more vulnerable to developing skin cancer compared to men. It is advisable that all
the population need to check the skin regularly and in case of any changes, they need to
perform biopsy tests. Cancer treatment often entails removal of cancerous (Hamilton et al.,
2017). Currently, the most common treatment of skin cancer is surgery which targets at
removing the cancer skis cells. Other skin treatments involve the application of ointments or
radiotherapy management. Despite these advances treatment options in Australian health care
systems, the trends seem not to goes lower but skin cancer cases continue to rise affecting the
Middle Ages mostly (Olsen et al., 2015). Global campaigns have focussed on awareness and
early detection as the key tools to assign and avoiding skin cancer. These avenues have been
the basis of effective prevention strategies currently being implemented in Australia.
Prevention tools are often key tools which enhance and influence positive attitude and
towards on skin cancer.

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