MPs take chance to get skin checks

Health Minister Joanthan Coleman receiving a melanoma check-up from Wellington dermatologist Dr Bruce Taylor at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell, NZ Herald

The Health Minister and other MPs have lined-up for skin checks at Parliament today to promote melanoma awareness.

More than 300 New Zealanders die from melanoma each year, and Melanoma New Zealand brought dermatologists to Parliament today to raise awareness of the importance of regular checks.

Dr Jonathan Coleman joined other politicians from National, Labour, NZ First, the Green Party and Act in receiving a check-up.

"We're working to raise awareness about the importance of skin checks and teaching people to be vigilant about changes in their own skin," said Linda Flay, chief executive of Melanoma New Zealand.

Ms Flay said there were new treatment options for those with advanced skin cancer, including immunotherapies, which use the immune system to attack the cancer, which were available but not reimbursed in New Zealand.

Dr Coleman said melanoma was New Zealand's fourth most common cancer.

"The risk of developing melanoma is strongly linked to suffering from one or more sunburns in childhood or adolescence. Reducing severe sunburn would have the greatest impact on the incidence of melanoma."