Alarming Rise In Deadly Skin Cancer Cases, UK

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Main Category: Melanoma / Skin Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Dermatology
Article Date: 25 May 2009 - 9:00 PDT

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There has been an alarming rise in new cases of the deadliest form of skin cancer in the UK, with binge tanning cited as a main reason, said a leading cancer charity.

The number of UK people diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the potentially fatal type of skin cancer. has gone over the 10,000 barrier to reach an all time high of 10,400 according to figures released earlier today by Cancer Research UK.

Experts are concerned about the dramatic rise in the numbers in recent decades and believe that binge tanning, either at home or abroad, when people take advantage of sunseeking package holidays, is the main reason.

Cancer Research UK's director of health information, Sara Hiom, told the press the figures are very worrying.

"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 sunbeds," she said.

Scientists from Cancer Research UK said they expect the numbers to be over 15,500 by the year 2024, which would make malignant melanoma the fourth biggest cancer killer for men and women of all ages.

Measured in terms of numbers of cases per 100,000 of the population, the rates of malignant melanoma in the UK have gone up three-fold since the 1970s, from 3.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 14.7 per 100,000 in 2006.

Women appear to be diagnosed more often than men: in the UK 5,600 cases are diagnosed in women compared to 4,800 in men. However, the rates in men have gone up five-fold whereas in women they have tripled, and also men are more likely to die from it than women.

Hiom explained that most melanoma skin cancers come from over-exposure to UV rays, either from being in the sun or from lying on a sunbed.

"But, crucially, if people are careful not to redden or burn, especially if they have fair, freckly or moley skin then most cases of malignant melanoma could be prevented," she added.

People can be safe in the sun if they stay in the shade during the middle part of the day, by covering themselves up with appropriate cool clothing, wearing sunglasses and using lots of sun cream with a minimum protection factor of 15, said Hiom.

According to Cancer Research UK, you should go and see a doctor straight away if you have a mole that is:

• Getting bigger.
• Changing shape, particularly if the edge becomes irregular.
• Changing colour*, particularly getting darker, patchy or multi-shaded.
• Itching or painful.
• Bleeding or becoming crusty.
• Looking inflamed.

*Moles that have 3 or more different shades of black or brown are most probably melanoma.

Precancerous moles are very easy to treat and can usually be removed under local anaesthetic.

Thus an early melanoma can usually be cured if caught early, so don't leave it too long.

For men the most common place for a melanoma is on the back, whereas for women it is on the legs.

Source: Cancer Research UK.

Written by: Catharine Paddock, PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today
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