Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, with a rising incidence of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Canadians, but specific statistics are not reported as these cancers are difficult to keep track of. In 2020, an estimated 8,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer and 1,300 Canadians will die from it. Primary care physicians can help improve patient outcomes by facilitating early skin cancer diagnosis and management.
This program supports primary care physicians in triaging skin lesions more accurately and at an earlier stage, with a focus on recognizing suspicious skin lesions and selecting which biopsy would be most appropriate based on physical characteristics of the suspicious lesion.
This program has received an educational grant or in-kind support from Melanoma Canada.