- Non-melanoma skin cancers accounted for more deaths worldwide than melanoma because they are much more common.
- The growing aging population could be one reason skin cancer rates are increasing.
- Non-melanoma skin cancer is treatable and, in most cases, preventable.
A study being presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Neurology Congress 2023 is reporting that there are now more global deaths from non-melanoma skin cancers than melanoma itself.
Although non-melanoma skin cancers are less deadly than melanomas, their prevalence is so high that the number of deaths is higher, the study authors wrote.
In 2020, there were nearly 1.2 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer worldwide compared to 324,635 cases of melanoma.
The researchers stated that in 2020 non-melanoma skin cancers accounted for 78% of all skin cancer cases and 63,700 deaths worldwide. During the same time, melanoma resulted in 57,000 deaths.
Non-melanoma skin cancer develops slowly in the upper layers of the skin.
Common types are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
These types of cancers are less likely to spread to other areas of the body and are more easily treated.
The study authors reported there is a high incidence rate of skin cancer in fair-skinned and elderly populations in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Italy, although death rates remain relatively low.
The researchers note that even countries with a high proportion of dark-skinned people are not immune to the risk of skin cancer.
“This study provides a fascinating insight into global skin cancer incidence and mortality rates. Interestingly, dermatologists’ availability within a given area had no correlations with melanoma incidence or mortality rates, suggesting that other factors besides dermatologist density successfully decrease mortality-to-incidence…
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