Melanoma skin cancer cases rising
Posted on | November 4, 2009 | Comments Off
Each year, 10,000 Britons diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Not only that, the number of people diagnosed with malignant melanoma rose by 700 in one year.
The charity predicts this number will rise to more than 15,500 by 2024. And this makes malignant melanoma the fourth most common cancer among men and women in the United Kingdom.
In the last 30 years rates of the cancer have more than quadrupled, from 3.4 cases per 100,000 people in 1977 to 14.7 per 100,000 in 2006.
Moreover, 5,600 women and 4,800 men diagnosed with skin cancer for each year. But men are more likely to die from the cancer, and rates of diagnosis among them have risen fivefold, whereas in women they have more than tripled.
“These figures show that a worrying number of people are being diagnosed with this potentially fatal disease. With the rates of malignant melanoma in the UK rising faster than any other cancer, it’s more important than ever that people are aware of the dangers of getting burnt, either in the sun or from using tanning beds.” Say Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK’s director of health information
Most of melanoma skin cancers were caused by over-exposure to UV rays given off by the sun, tanning beds and tanning beds.
But crucially, most cases could be prevented if people took care not to redden or burn, especially if they have skin which is fair or freckly or has many moles. Also, if people enjoy the sun safely by spending time in the shade in the middle of the day, covering up with appropriate cool clothing and sunglasses and applying plenty of sun cream of at least factor 15.
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