The Australian Government has announced a multi-million-dollar skin cancer prevention campaign – Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide.
Often called the ‘national cancer’, Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with an estimated two in three Australians being diagnosed with skin cancer during their lifetime.
Delivered in partnership with the Cancer Council, the $10 million national campaign will highlight the importance of being SunSmart to drive down rates of the country’s most common, most costly and one of our most preventable cancers.
It is particularly important that men get the SunSmart message: almost twice as many men as women will die from melanoma this year alone.
Despite this, new research released by the Cancer Council shows that one 49 per cent of Australian men actively seek shade to protect themselves from the sun during summer, and only 29 per cent regularly use sunscreen.
With over-exposure to UV radiation causing 95 per cent of melanomas, Australians are being reminded to use the five forms of sun protection whenever the UV level is three or above: Slip on sun-protective clothing, Slop on broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 (or higher) sunscreen, Slap on a broad brimmed hat, Seek shade and Slide on sunglasses.
The Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, said skin cancer claimed the lives of more than 2,000 Australians every year.
“Yet, there are easy steps we can take to protect ourselves from the sun and reduce our risk of skin cancer,” he said.
“Fortunately, most skin cancers can be prevented by using all five forms of sun protection – Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide.
Australians will see these messages throughout this summer and next – at the cricket, on TV, on radio, online – to help remind them how to stay safe from our ‘national cancer’.
“Sun protection saves lives, and we are working with our expert partners to save as many Australian lives as possible from this preventable disease.”
The new campaign begins this month.
