Melanoma March helps catch three suspected skin cancers at free skin check clinic

An event raising funds for melanoma research and awareness on the dangers of tanning has helped catch three potential skin cancers at a pop-up skin check clinic. Geraldton’s first Melanoma March was held on Sunday along the foreshore, organised by the family of former Brigades Football Club president, Jason O’Brien. Mr O’Brien had a melanoma cut out of his back at age 22, which ended up spreading to his brain later — and ultimately claimed the father of three’s life in August 2021, 25 years after his initial diagnosis. The family noticed a big demand for participants in the walk which is typically held in Perth, and decided to bring the event up to Geraldton to lessen the travel time. Up to 200 people participated in the 5km fundraising walk from Edith Cowan Square to the Horizon Ball and back, raising almost $18,000 in the process. Dr Ray Cockerill from Geraldton Mole and Skin Cancer Clinic was accompanied by two staff, performing skin checks for anyone who was interested. Australia has the highest rates of melanoma in the world. According to the Melanoma Institute of Australia, it is expected 16,800 people will be diagnosed with melanoma this year and an estimated 1300 will die. “We saw around 25 people and in that we picked up two suspected melanomas and one suspected basal cell carcinoma, and we’ve asked a few others to come in for a biopsy,” Dr Cockerill said. Dr Cockerill said the clinic was diagnosing one person a week with melanoma. “We are one of two clinics accredited, so really it could be double that,” he said. Melanomas can present as black or pink moles, with the danger coming when a mole is in a hidden spot which can cause a late diagnosis, giving it time to spread and become aggressive. “Eighty per cent of melanomas occur in skin where there has been no moles. A new skin lesion needs to be looked at critically, especially in those over the age of 40,” Dr Cockerill said. None of the people who had suspected skin cancers detected have booked in with Dr Cockerill’s clinic since, but their names and contact details have been recorded.