Melissa Ledger, research director at Cancer Council WA, emphasized the significant healthcare cost savings that can be achieved through effective skin cancer prevention.

Ledger also stressed the necessity of continued investment in the SunSmart program to ensure a sustainable health system.

There is a growing call for strategies to reach currently under-served audiences, especially secondary school students, to further mitigate skin cancer risks.

Increased regulations for shade in public spaces and enhanced training for health professionals in early detection are also recommended to bolster prevention efforts.

The Cancer Council WA's SunSmart program is projected to prevent 300,000 skin cancers and save 1,000 lives over the next two decades.

This initiative is expected to generate a remarkable return of $8.70 for every dollar spent, translating to over $166 million in benefits for the Western Australian Government.

Over the past 20 years, the program is anticipated to save $650 million in healthcare costs by avoiding 13,000 cases of melanoma.

Prof Louisa Collins has highlighted the staggering costs associated with treating advanced melanoma, which can reach around $100,000 per patient.

Skin cancer remains the most common and expensive cancer to treat, and rising incidence rates are likely to escalate healthcare costs further.

The findings from recent studies support ongoing investment in skin cancer prevention strategies, particularly through public education and targeted messaging for high-risk groups.

The overarching goal of the SunSmart program is to reduce hospital visits and costly treatments through effective UV exposure prevention.

A recent study published in Health Promotion International underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to reduce UV overexposure.