Mobile secondary prevention of skin cancer
QUT Improving Health Outcomes for People researchers attended the 2nd Global Advances and Controversies in Skin Cancer Conference 2015. The conference was attended by medical, research and health support professionals debating prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship of skin cancer (including both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer).
The conference highlighted the global burden of skin cancer. The incidence of skin cancer, both melanoma and non-melanoma, is increasing worldwide. There are approximately 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers and 132,000 melanoma skin cancers diagnosed annually.
New Technologies could help prevent skin cancer
Many young Australians are still getting sunburnt on a regular basis despite having good knowledge about sun protective behaviours.
Researchers from QUT Improving Health Outcomes for People, the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) and University of the Sunshine Coast are conducting the Skntec study to directly test the use of personal UVR devices and the impact they may have on people’s sun exposure.
Sun Exposure and Sun Protection Behaviours – Volunteers needed for online survey!
Skin cancer is a major public health problem in Australia. QUT Improving Health Outcomes for People PhD student Ngadiman Djaja is hoping to develop a better way of measuring sun exposure and habits that put people at high risk for skin cancer.
Mr Djaja is looking for 1000 or more volunteers to take part in a 10-15 minute survey. Participants would be asked about their skin complexion, hair colour, work and leisure pursuits, sunscreen use, and how long they spent in the sun. Participants need to be Queensland residents 18 years of age and over.
How text messages can be used in the fight to prevent skin cancer
Ihop in the media
A Queensland-first, the Healthy Text trial tested the impact and value of SMS-delivered messages promoting sun protection along with skin self-examination for early detection of skin cancer.
Gynaecological Cancer and Lymphoedema
Dr Tracey DiSipio, a Postdoctoral Fellow within the QUT Improving Health Outcomes for People research group, is the lead author of a new paper entitled “The Lymphedema Evaluation in Gynecological cancer Study (LEGS): design of a prospective, longitudinal, cohort study” published in the journal Cancer Research Frontiers.
Lymphoedema is a potential problematic complication following treatment for cancer and is the accumulation of excessive amounts of fluid resulting in swelling, most commonly in the arms or legs, but can also occur in other parts of the body. Prevalence and risk factors for lymphoedema following gynaecological cancer are currently unknown.
Sun Protection Text Messages
Although most commonly used for social communication, text messaging has been used in skin cancer prevention with positive behaviour changes as discovered by Miss Linda Finch and colleagues at the Queensland University of Technology, Cancer Council Queensland, and the University of Queensland. Miss Finch is the lead author of the paper ‘User preferences for text message-delivered skin cancer prevention and early detection’ in the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare.
This study examined the user experience and acceptability of text messages designed to improve sun protection or skin cancer early detection behaviours in young adults (18 to 42 years) with the Healthy Text health promotion program.
