The Newcastle Jets are preparing for more than football this summer.
Players and staff lined up for pre-season skin checks with the Hunter Melanoma Foundation as part of its Skin in the Game initiative.
Dr Mike Reid from the Calvary Mater Melanoma Unit visited a training session to talk about sun safety and carry out skin checks.
As the warmer months approach, the foundation continues its mission to defeat the incidence of melanoma in the region by educating the community about early detection and preventative measures.
Melanoma is the third most common cancer in Australian men and accounts for about 12% of all new cancer diagnosed.
In the 1980s, the Hunter had the highest melanoma rate in Australia, but, through the work of the foundation and others, the region now sits at number three.
Hunter Melanoma Foundation executive director, Claudia Tolhurst, congratulated the Newcastle Jets on being proactive in the lead-up to the summer A-League competition.
“Playing sport and enjoying outdoor lifestyle is part of our country’s culture,” she said.
“Even if you are applying sunscreen, extended periods in the sun increases the risk of a melanoma, making it important to make skin checks part of your regular health care routine.”
Melanoma doesn’t discriminate and people of all ages and skin types can be diagnosed.
About 95% of all cases are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet light.
The foundation is inviting other schools, sporting and community groups to be part of the 2019-20 HMF Skin in the Game initiative.
“Our mission is to reduce the number of people affected by melanoma in our region,” Ms Tolhurst added.
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