As Australians we love nothing more than getting out into the great outdoors and enjoying the sun.
However, this sadly means that we are also very well versed in the harm UV rays can potentially cause.
For Wimmera Mallee locals, a visit to the RNH stand at the Wimmera Machinery Field Days for a free skin check certainly paid off, with one third of checked visitors detected as having “suspicious skin features” requiring further evaluation by their GP.
Leading Horsham GP Doctor Mihaela Guguila performed the skin checks as part of the Cancer Awareness, Support, and Early Detection (CASED) project which aims to increase awareness on the importance of sun protection, empower individuals to take control of their overall health and make informed decisions about sun protection, increase participation in skin cancer screening, and reduce the burden of skin cancer on the health system.
Of the 33 people who had a skin check, a total of 11 were recommended for further investigation.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the stereotypical rural workforce, a significantly higher proportion of males (60%) attended the RNH site to undergo a skin check, compared to 39% of females, with the 50+ age group leading the charge.
Some of the suspicious features recognised via testing included Melanoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, and Actinic Keratosis, and demonstrated the need for further community awareness and education surrounding the importance of sun protection and early identification.
If you have concerns about your skin, please consult your GP.
Dr Mihaela Guguila (left) is shown checking Will Hewitt’s skin at the field days, assisted by then-GICS Project Officer Zernain Athar.