Skin Cancer Cases and Costs Surge in Alberta and Queensland

In Alberta, Canada, melanoma diagnoses have nearly doubled between 2013 and 2023, with health officials projecting over 1,100 new cases this year and estimating that one in every 45 Canadians will receive a melanoma diagnosis at some point. Dermatologists urge consistent sunscreen use and warn that misinformation on platforms such as TikTok is undermining public health messages.

In Queensland, Australia, the QSkin cohort study of 40,388 residents tracked over an average of 8.5 years found that skin‑cancer‑related services accounted for 2.4% of national health expenditure—more than twice previous estimates. Government costs rose to about $43 million, with out‑of‑pocket expenses adding $5.8 million. Costs for keratinocyte cancers increased 105% and melanoma costs jumped 166% from 2013‑14 to 2022‑23, driven mainly by excision procedures and hospital admissions.