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4th April 2026
A new systematic review confirms that daily sunscreen significantly reduces rates of actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma in immunocompetent adults. Nicotinamide and topical 5-fluorouracil also show preventive benefits, while oral retinoids and DFMO offer limited value due to inconsistent results and safety concerns.4th April 2026
A new editorial in Annals of Surgical Oncology suggests that routine ultrasound surveillance for sentinel node–positive melanoma patients may no longer be necessary when cross-sectional imaging is already in use.29th March 2026
Our transition to Skin Cancer New Zealand from MelNet is now complete. We have a fresh new brand and website — take a look around and explore all the resources and information available. We’d love to hear your feedback, ideas, or suggestions as we continue to grow and improve.29th March 2026
These Guidelines are under review. The 4th edition is expected to be released in June 2026. Clinicians can use the updated draft right now to support best practice care.28th March 2026
With the longest follow-up reported, this Australian study demonstrates that cemiplimab provides durable disease control in advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and that retreatment can be effective for patients whose cancer has returned.26th March 2026
This trial showed that the Melanoma Care Programme, which combines mental health screening, education, and telehealth sessions, significantly reduced fear of cancer recurrence, anxiety, depression, and stress, while improving knowledge and quality of life in early-stage melanoma patients.26th March 2026
Finnish MSLT-II data show that complete lymph node dissection after a positive sentinel node biopsy does not reduce long-term quality of life. While initial hospital costs are higher, total costs per patient are similar over time.26th March 2026
A study of 3,447 patients shows melanomas arising from pre-existing moles are independently associated with lower risk of recurrence and improved survival.26th March 2026
A study of 1,753 melanomas shows women’s survival advantage is largely due to clinicopathologic features such as tumour thickness, ulceration, and site, rather than sex itself, highlighting the role of early detection and tumour characteristics in outcomes.26th March 2026
A study of US and Queensland data shows women are diagnosed with melanoma 3–8 years earlier than men across most body sites and tumour types, highlighting the need for sex-tailored prevention and early detection strategies.26th March 2026
Three-year results from the RELATIVITY-047 trial show that combining nivolumab with relatlimab in advanced melanoma improves overall survival, progression-free survival, and response rates compared with nivolumab alone, with sustained benefit and a safety profile consistent with previous reports.26th March 2026
A new study of over 144,000 Australian patients shows melanoma risk rises sharply once thin tumours reach 0.8 mm in thickness. Tumours under 0.8 mm had excellent survival, while 0.8–1.0 mm tumours carried nearly three times higher melanoma-related death risk.20th March 2026
A recent review of studies from 2020–2024 found evidence that vaping may cause DNA damage, cellular changes, and increased cell growth — all of which are associated with the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma.20th March 2026
New research suggests that circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) could help identify melanoma patients at higher risk of relapse and monitor response to treatment. Patients with detectable ctDNA after surgery had poorer outcomes, while changes in ctDNA levels during therapy reflected whether the disease was returning.20th March 2026
New research suggests that targeted therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib may help reduce the risk of recurrence in patients with BRAF-mutated stage III/IV melanoma who relapse after initial immunotherapy. Patients treated with this approach showed encouraging relapse-free and metastasis-free survival at 12 months.20th March 2026
New research suggests that tailoring treatment based on how patients respond to immunotherapy could improve outcomes in stage III melanoma. Patients with a strong response may safely avoid further surgery or treatment, while those with a poorer response may benefit from additional therapy.4th March 2026
A 2025 national survey found 64% of New Zealand adults were sunburnt last summer, especially young women, while public support for SunSmart programs remains strong, with over 85% backing increased prevention efforts and shaded public spaces.