NSW

The impact of skin cancer on men in New South Wales

For NSW men, skin cancer is not just a summer problem — it is a serious, lifelong health risk. The impact is particularly significant for men who have spent decades working or playing outdoors.

The Cancer Institute NSW identifies men aged 40 and over as a priority population because melanoma incidence rises sharply in men from their 40s, while men also tend to have lower levels of skin-cancer awareness and sun-protection behaviour than women. Cancer NSW

The numbers are confronting

In NSW in 2023, an estimated 5,655 people were diagnosed with melanoma, including approximately 3,480 men. There were also an estimated 497 melanoma deaths, including 328 men.

That means men accounted for roughly 62% of melanoma diagnoses and 66% of melanoma deaths in those NSW estimates.

Even more concerning, among NSW residents aged over 40, men are reported to be 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma and 2.5 times more likely to die from it than women of the same age.

Why are NSW blokes particularly vulnerable?

A lot of it comes down to accumulated UV exposure.

Think about the bloke who has spent 20, 30 or 40 years:

  • Working on building sites
  • Farming
  • Landscaping
  • Fishing
  • Surfing
  • Playing weekend sport
  • Camping and hunting
  • Gardening
  • Working in emergency services
  • Serving in Defence
  • Spending weekends outdoors with the family

That UV exposure adds up.

Outdoor workers can receive more than three times the UV exposure of indoor workers, according to Cancer Institute NSW. Cancer NSW

And the damage doesn't necessarily disappear when the workday ends. UV exposure causes cumulative DNA damage to skin cells, increasing the risk of melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

This is where we need to change the conversation

Blokes don't need another lecture about sunscreen.

They need a reason to give a shit about their skin.

Your skin has taken a beating for years. Don't wait until something starts bleeding, changing or hurting before you take notice.