Study linked skin cancer care to 2.4% of direct health costs
Queenslanders aged 40-69 are estimated to attend about 1.49 million skin cancer appointments and procedures each year, according to a major new study that tracked more than 40,300 adults over eight years.
During the study period, participants used more than 245,000 skin cancer services. Those services accounted for 2.4% of all direct health service costs in the cohort.
QIMR Berghofer runs the QSkin Study, which it identifies as the world’s largest cohort study focused on skin cancer.
Its latest findings were published on 30th June 2026 in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
Across the cohort, 71% of adults used a skin cancer service, 51% had at least one skin biopsy and 36% had one or more non-melanoma skin cancers removed.
Another 34% had a mole or spot excised to rule out melanoma. Meanwhile, 5% had a melanoma removed and 8% were admitted to hospital for skin cancer treatment.
Dr Daniel Lindsay on costs
Lead author Dr Daniel Lindsay from Cancer Council Queensland said the findings show the scale of care linked to the disease.
“Queensland is the skin cancer capital of the world, and this study shows we are paying a high price for the title, literally, with our personal and government spending,” Dr Lindsay said.
The study found more than two cents in every health dollar spent on Queensland adults’ health was related to skin cancer. Government treatment costs for the study population alone were estimated at more than $50 million.
Dr Lindsay said that figure suggests the real cost across Queensland is well into the hundreds of millions.
Researchers said the heavy use of skin cancer services should prompt further investment in prevention campaigns to protect public health and ease pressure on the healthcare system.
Professor David Whiteman on impact
Senior author Professor David Whiteman AM from QIMR Berghofer said each statistic in the paper reflects a Queenslander dealing with a skin cancer diagnosis.
“This study reinforces the enormous impact that skin cancer is having on the lives of Queenslanders,” Professor Whiteman said.
The paper is titled “The costs of diagnosing and treating skin cancer: findings from the QSkin Study”.
