Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the skin.
There are two types of non-melanoma skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Two out of three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before the age of 70.
BCC and SCC are the most common types of non-melanoma skin cancer. In Australia, about 430,000 cases of BCC and SCC are diagnosed and treated each year.
BCC can develop in young people but is most common in people aged over 40 years. SCC occurs mostly in people aged over 50.
Incidence
About 70 cases of skin cancers (non-Melanoma) are diagnosed in Victoria each year.
Research funded
More than $440,000 has been given to fund research specifically into non-melanoma skin cancer.
In addition, more than $16.2 million has been spent on research projects looking into the detection and treatment of all tumour types (including skin).
Overall, Cancer Council Victoria has funded $69 million worth of
lab-based research in Victorian hospitals, universities and research
institutions since 2003.
More on external research funded per tumour type