According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), there will be approximately one million new cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2008. The AAD says that about one in every five Americans will develop skin cancer some time during his/her lifetime.
The most common types of skin cancer are basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Fortunately, they are easy to treat if detected early.
Melanoma
Over 75% of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma.
For people aged 25-29 years Melanoma is the most common form of cancer. Melanoma is the second most common form of cancer for people aged 15-29. Melanoma is most commonly developed in the torso. Dermatologists suggest this may be due to high-risk tanning behaviors.
Five-year survival rates for people aged 10-39 years with melanoma are over 90%, says the AAD. Melanoma is expected to affect approximately 1 in every 58 American people during their lifetime. The risk of developing melanoma is higher among Caucasian men and women, and men over 50.
If a patient’s melanoma is detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes his/her chances of surviving over five years is 99%.
The AAD believes there will be approximately 116,500 melanoma cases this year – 54,020 noninvasive (in situ) and 62,480 invasive (34,950 men and 27,530 women). In 2008 8,420 people will have died because of melanoma (5,400 men and 3,020 women) – about one death every sixty-two minutes.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) over 65,000 people die from too much exposure to direct sunlight globally each year, with malignant skin cancer being the main cause of death.
— 2008 Melanoma / Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month®
Written by – Christian Nordqvist