In Australia non-melanoma skin cancer is diagnosed in 400,000 new cases each year.

• Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australia, with around 400,000 new cases per year.
• With effective early detection and treatment survival rates for five years after diagnosis are For those cancers diagnosed in 1992 – 97, relative survival one year after diagnosis of melanoma of the skin was very good.
• It is estimated that basal cell carcinoma will spread to other parts of the body in less than 0.5% of cases. The risk is slightly higher in cases of squamous cell carcinoma, which spreads to other parts of the body in about 4% of cases.

Sources: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (Cancer of the skin – melanoma, Non-melanoma skin cancer: general practice consultations, hospitalisation and mortality)