The number of melanomas excised in 2020 was about 15% fewer than expected, even in states with lower numbers of COVID-19 cases and less pandemic restrictions, says Cancer Australia. 

In a further illustration of the pandemic’s secondary health effects, the analysis of MBS data showed that treatment of breast cancer was 6% lower than expectations and treatment for pancreatic cancer was 7% lower. 

Treatments for gynaecological cancer — comprising cervical, ovarian, vulval, vaginal and uterine cancers — fell by 8%.

But melanoma excisions, which comprised about half of all cancer treatments in the analysis, were impacted the most.