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Throughout October, Melanoma New Zealand nurses are delivering free skin cancer spot checks and education in centres around the country, as part of Melanoma Awareness Month.
The goal is to raise awareness about how to be sun smart, how to check your own skin and having checks by health care practitioners, particularly if you’re at higher risk. The sailing community is a high-risk group, typically spending more time exposed to the sun when out on the water.
Information about locations and dates can be found here.
More than 7000 melanomas are diagnosed in New Zealand annually and around 300 New Zealanders die from melanoma each year (we have the highest death rate from melanoma in the world). But melanoma can be preventable, and if detected and treated early enough, is almost always curable.
The spot check events are being run in partnership with Melanoma New Zealand sun-safe sponsor La Roche-Posay, as part of their campaign “Your Skin Remembers’’, which shares the impactful message that harmful UV exposure adds up over time. La Roche-Posay will be providing free Anthelios sunscreen samples at the spot check events.
Although spot checks are a great way to engage in conversation about skin health, they are not a full body check, and a diagnosis is not provided. Regular full body skin checks by a GP, nurse, dermatologist, surgeon, or plastic surgeon are still recommended. Plus, Melanoma New Zealand’s skilled Nurse Educators offer free online and telephone consultations to anyone concerned about melanoma wanting advice, support, and links to other services.
Join the Fight Against Melanoma
Melanoma New Zealand is proud to be Yachting New Zealand’s official charity. Melanoma New Zealand is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of individuals and families affected by melanoma. As a charity the work relies on individual donations, corporate sponsorships and grants for funding. Anyone wishing to support Melanoma New Zealand’s lifesaving work can donate here.
