Donate to Skin Cancer Research
2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime. Cure Cancer is on the mission to fund research for cures.
Help improve outcomes for skin cancer patients
In 2023, around 18,257 people were diagnosed with melanoma in Australia.
Cure Cancer has funded 46 melanoma cancer researchers so far, but more research is desperately needed. Supporting the brightest emerging researchers with innovative ideas gives us the best possible chance of finding a cure.
Every dollar you donate makes a real difference to our mission. Together, let’s make this the last generation to die from skin cancer.
"The grant funding gives me the means to keep striving towards my ultimate goal of making a tangible impact on this devastating disease, which desperately needs unique research.
I feel extremely grateful for the grant because it allows me to pursue a career I’m passionate about, gives me the professional assistance needed to move forward, and the personal confidence that my research is important and worthy of study."
— Dr Kelly Brooks. a 2021 Cure Cancer grant recipient
What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer occurs when skin cells are damaged, often by UV exposure to the sun. There are three main types of skin cancer; basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Skin cancer is not sex-specific, but non-melanoma skin cancers are not notified to cancer registries. Each year, over 17,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma, and the number of cases continues to rise. For non-melanoma skin cancers, the number is as high as 400,000 people per year. Unfortunately, 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime.
What are the types of skin cancer?
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are known as non-melanoma skin cancer. These skin cancers are the most common cancers in Australia, but most are not life threatening.
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, and develops from chronic UV exposure, with Australians having the highest rate in the world. This cancer type can be hard to treat due to its invasive nature and high resistance to chemotherapy, which poses a significant challenge to delivering effective treatment.
What are the common symptoms of skin cancer?
- Crusty, non-healing sores
- Small lumps that are red, pale or pearly in colour
- New spots, freckles or any moles changing in colour, thickness or shape
How is skin cancer diagnosed?
Make sure you check your skin regularly and book an appointment with your GP if you notice any changes. They can then examine you, paying attention to any spots that may look suspicious.
Your GP may perform a biopsy which can be sent to a lab for testing to see if any cancer cells are present.
What is the prognosis for skin cancer?
Most BCCs and SCCs are successfully treated, especially when found early. The chance of surviving for at least 5 years following a skin cancer diagnosis is 93%.
While survival rates are high for early-stage melanoma, they drop drastically to as low as 26.2% for advanced melanoma patients, who have a poor prognosis.
References
How your donation helps
$75
Funds an hour of research
$150
Pays for microscopy imaging to look for immune cells in tumours
$1000
Funds small scale drug screening studies to identify new treatments
$10,000
Allows for comprehensive analysis of cancers through genomics
Our skin cancer researchers
Together, we can cure cancer.
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