SYSF Contributes Skin Cancer, Melanoma and Ocular Melanoma Context and Support to Quebec Cancer Foundation's Report

Save Your Skin Foundation (SYSF) is proud to have contributed to the Quebec Cancer Coalition’s major new report, Objectives & Priorities for the Coming Years by Cancer Type. This foundational document outlines strategic, cancer-specific recommendations designed to inform Quebec’s 10-year cancer plan.

With melanoma incidence rising sharply in Quebec—alongside persistent gaps in prevention, survivorship, and support services—SYSF was honoured to provide expertise, patient experience insights, bilingual resources, and policy priorities to strengthen this important provincial roadmap.

Below is an overview of SYSF’s contribution and the key melanoma-focused findings and recommendations highlighted in the report.

About the Project

This Quebec-wide initiative was built around three central goals:

1. Provide a comprehensive overview of the necessary measures—by cancer type—to reduce incidence and mortality in Quebec. For melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), this included detailed analysis of epidemiology, prevention, screening, psychosocial needs, and treatment access.
   

2. Serve as a reference tool for decision-makers implementing healthcare measures to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. SYSF contributed patient-reported experience data, insights on system gaps, and practical recommendations derived from frontline support work.
   

3. Highlight the priorities and expertise of member organizations and amplify patient voices. As the only national melanoma and ocular melanoma charity serving Quebecers directly in French, SYSF offered a clear picture of unmet needs and opportunities for system improvement.

Understanding the Burden of Skin Cancer and Melanoma in Quebec

The report emphasizes the significant burden of skin cancer in the province, noting that:

• Quebec has seen a 138% increase in melanoma risk between 2009 and 2019.

• The Registre québécois du cancer recorded 2,237 melanoma cases in 2021, with projections exceeding 3,000 by 2023.

• Melanoma incidence is increasing more rapidly in women, a shift likely linked to historic tanning culture and lack of early sun-safety awareness.

Types of Skin Cancer Covered in the Report

The report provides an overview of:

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers (NMSC)

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) – 80% of NMSC cases

• Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

• Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) – rare and highly aggressive

Melanoma Subtypes

Including superficial spreading, nodular, lentigo maligna, acral lentiginous melanoma, and rare non-cutaneous forms such as mucosal, desmoplastic, and ocular/uveal melanoma.

SYSF’s leadership in cutaneous melanoma, ocular melanoma, and survivorship support gave critical depth to this section of the report.

Key Context for Quebec: Who Is Most Affected?

The report highlights priority populations, including:

• Adults aged 50–84, representing the majority of melanoma diagnoses

• Youth and teens who are less likely to practice sun safety

• Outdoor workers and athletes

• Fair-skinned individuals and those with family history

• Patients living in regions with fewer specialized resources

• Caregivers, who often have less access to support

Current Support Landscape: Gaps and Opportunities

Quebec benefits from several strong cancer organizations, but the report notes a major gap: There is no Quebec-based organization dedicated exclusively to melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer, or ocular melanoma.

SYSF currently fills this gap by providing:

• Fully bilingual patient and caregiver resources

• French-language newsletters and treatment updates

• French-language patient-reported experience measures (PREMs)

• Ocular melanoma resources through Ocumel Canada, also fully bilingual

• Support groups, navigation assistance, advocacy, and educational webinars

The report identifies a critical need for:

• More resources specific to survivorship

• More caregiver-focused supports

• Financial and legal navigation assistance

• Fertility and family-planning information

• Expanded ocular melanoma education and access to care

SYSF’s Patient Experience Data: Quebec-Specific Insights

SYSF’s COVID-19 patient experience surveys offered rare French-language, Quebec-specific insights:

• Quebec patients reported much higher surgical postponement in 2020 (16.7% vs. 5.9% elsewhere in Canada).
  

• Quebec respondents in 2021 reported delays in medical imaging at more than four times the rate of other provinces.

Objectives and Performance Indicators for the Next 10 Years

The report outlines short-, medium-, and long-term objectives for melanoma in Quebec.

Short-Term Objectives (1–3 years)

• Biennial PREMs surveys for melanoma, NMSC, and ocular melanoma

• Development of new resources on fertility, disability benefits, and employment rights

• Advocacy to designate May as Melanoma Month across Quebec

• Installation of sustainable public sunscreen dispensers

• Province-wide sun-safety and skin-checking public service announcements

Medium-Term Objectives (3–6 years)

• Sun-safety task forces in schools, universities, sports, and labour sectors

• Increased adoption of precision medicine

• Stronger provider–patient-group collaboration

• Support for Canada’s Health Data Strategy

• Psychosocial support systems for caregivers, young patients, and ocular melanoma patients

Long-Term Objectives (6–10 years)

• Continued advocacy to INESSS for innovative treatment coverage

• Broad cultural adoption of sun-safety practices

• Expanded care options for ocular melanoma

• Sustainable financial support for rural and remote patients

• Permanent sunscreen dispenser installations province-wide

A Shared Vision for the Future

The report concludes with an ambitious but attainable vision for melanoma care in Quebec—one that SYSF fully supports:

• A province where sun safety is second nature

• Accessible public sunscreen, shaded spaces, and widespread awareness

• Routine skin-checking education as common as breast- or testicular-self exams

• Faster access to dermatologists and mole-mapping tools

• Expanded precision medicine and genetic testing

• Comprehensive psychosocial and survivorship supports

• Increased awareness and detection of ocular melanoma

• Stronger caregiver support networks

• Improved cancer-care access for rural and remote residents

• Regular, transparent patient-reported measures informing system decisions

Conclusion

Save Your Skin Foundation is honoured to contribute its expertise, bilingual resources, and the lived experiences of patients and families to this crucial provincial initiative. As melanoma rates continue to rise in Quebec, this report provides a clear, actionable roadmap for the next decade—one grounded in prevention, equitable care, and the ongoing support of patients, survivors, and caregivers.

SYSF looks forward to working with the Quebec Cancer Coalition, healthcare decision-makers, and community partners to bring these recommendations to life.