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Experts have launched a major upgrade to a free tool, which uses 10 years of data from a study of more than 40,000 participants to determine a person’s individual risk of developing the deadly skin cancer.
The tool takes into account the most scientifically-relevant factors such as sunburn history, family history, how a person’s skin typically reacts to the sun, where a person lives and the number of moles a person has.
The questionnaire, which also takes into account other factors such as smoking history and height, takes a few minutes to complete.
The extensive analysis from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute is aimed at chieving early intervention and potentially limiting the chance of needing surgery.
Professor David Whiteman said the process also spared those at low risk from unnecessary screenings and procedures.
“Our healthcare system is at capacity and so we want to make sure that people who need skin checks are being checked and other people can take other measures, sun protection, monitoring their own skin, and seeing a doctor when they need to, but not necessarily needing regular skin checks,” Professor David Whiteman said.
“If you see a change on your skin in a mole or a spot do get it checked out even if the tool tells you your low risk.
“You still might have a melanoma so it’s not to be complacent, and slip slop slap.
It can be accessed at qimrb.edu.au/melanoma.