Non-melanoma skin cancer in Australia

Abstract

Objectives: To report the burden and cost of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) treatments in Australia and to project estimates of numbers and costs to 2015. Design and setting: Retrospective study of data obtained from Medicare Australia for NMSC treated by excision, curettage, laser or cryotherapy between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2010, by year, sex, age group and state or territory. Main outcome measures: Total number, total Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) benefit and total cost in Australian dollars of NMSC treatments. Results: The total number of NMSC treatments increased from 412 493 in 1997 to 767 347 in 2010, and we estimated that the number of treatments would increase to 938 99..