Experts say they uncovered a hidden Australian skin cancer epidemic.

Deaths from non-melanoma skin cancers have nearly doubled in Australia since the beginning of this millennium, with new research pointing to a significant but often overlooked threat. 

A study led by the University of the Sunshine Coast has identified a high-risk form of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) as a major cause of these deaths.

The findings, published in the journal Pathology, show that annual deaths from non-melanoma skin cancers increased from 400 in 2001 to almost 800 in 2021. 

The research team, led by Dr Andrew Dettrick, analysed data from sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics, revealing the severity of the issue.

Dr Dettrick, a pathologist at Sunshine Coast Health, emphasised the importance of not underestimating non-melanoma skin cancers. 

“Non-melanoma skin cancer is often trivialised because of its high prevalence combined with easy treatment for the majority of tumours,” he said. 

“However, there is a subgroup of squamous cell carcinoma that is associated with a high risk of metastasis and death.”

The high-risk version of SCC typically appears on sun-exposed areas such as the head and neck and can often be treated with localised removal. 

However, the real extent of the problem is difficult to quantify. 

Dr Dettrick noted that unlike melanoma, the pathologies of these cancers are not recorded on Australian cancer registries due to the high number of cases treated in GP clinics and hospitals.

The study recommends addressing deficiencies in defining, diagnosing, and managing treatment for this type of cancer before it spreads. 

“While the prognosis is excellent for the majority of patients with this skin cancer, including cure rates between 91 and 95 per cent following localised removal, things quickly worsen once the cancer has advanced locally or spread to lymph nodes,” Dr Dettrick said.

UniSC medical science academic Dr Rebecca Donkin, who supervised the study alongside Dr Anna Kuballa, says the study's recommendations would have serious impacts. 

“Many significant prognostic factors have been identified but there is no universally accepted prognostic index, so guidelines for treatment and follow-up have been open to interpretation,” Dr Donkin said. 

“To reduce deaths from this aggressive, potentially fatal malignancy, clinicians and pathologists must be able to identify cases early to improve the management of, and the chances of survival from, the disease. This is what Dr Dettrick and his colleagues are striving for.”