Skin cancer has been estimated to cost the New Zealand health system in excess of $33 million per annum.
	Skin cancers in New Zealand total about 67,000 compared to a total of 16,000 for all other new cancer registrations.
	In 2004 melanoma was the fourth most common cancer registration site for men and third for women and was the most common cancer in men 25 to 44-years-old and in women 15 to 24-years-old.
	More than 300 New Zealanders die every year from skin cancer (269 of these from melanoma). New Zealand now has the highest incidence rate for melanoma in the world.
	It has been estimated that, for every death from skin cancer, an average of 17.4 potential years of life are lost.
	On a positive note, melanoma rates for people under 40 appear to be leveling off, implying that sun safety programmes are beginning to work.

The incidence rate of skin cancer and melanoma is increasing and is expected to continue to do so over the next few years. This reflects the latent nature of skin cancer - the disease often does not manifest until many years after the damaging exposure. The incidence rates we see now are the result of the sun worshipping behaviour of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s (although better detection and registration may account for some of the increase).

The main causal factor for melanoma is episodic sunburn (from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light), particularly during childhood. Studies have shown that the best avenue for melanoma prevention is by encouraging protection against sunburn, particularly in children and fair skinned people.

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) does bring some benefit, as it provides the main source of vitamin D in New Zealand. Adequate vitamin D is essential for general health, as it is necessary for bone, joint, muscle and neurological function. Therefore, a balance is required between avoiding an increased risk of skin cancer and maintaining adequate vitamin D levels. Research is currently underway to understand what the optimal balance should be for New Zealanders.

The promotion of sun safety in New Zealand (using the SunSmart brand) is managed through a close strategic partnership between the HSC and the Cancer Society of New Zealand.



What we are seeking to achieve

The overall goal of the HSC's sun safety activities for the next two years is to reduce the incidence of sunburn in 8 to 12-year-olds.

What we will do to achieve success

The HSC's sun safety programme has four key outcomes:

	Increase the percentage of parents and caregivers taking steps to protect their 8 to 12-year-olds from getting sunburnt.
	Increase the percentage of organisations and agencies with influence over recreational settings eg, health promoters, sports organisations, local councils and event organisers taking steps to protect 8 to 12-year-olds from getting sunburnt in these settings.
	Increase the percentage of organisations and agencies with influence over the media eg, health promoters, the MetService, and television and print media that are taking steps to increase messages that encourage, and decrease messages that discourage, sun safe behaviours.
	Increase the percentage of primary and intermediate schools taking steps to protect 8 to 12-year-olds. This objective is the primary responsibility of the Cancer Society.

Exposure to UVR before the age of 20 is a particularly strong risk factor for melanoma incidence, so the Skin Cancer Control Steering Committee's Strategic Framework for 2008-11 identifies children under 13-years-old and their caregivers as the target audience. The HSC's current sun safety programme focuses on the parents and caregivers of 8 to 12-year-olds as this is the age at which children become more independent of their parents, therefore needing parents to reinforce sun safe behaviours.

Visit www.sunsmart.org.nz for more information about what HSC is doing in this area.

Last updated: 01/07/09.