Educate Yourself
The Experts answer your questions
INCIDENCE
Q. Who is most at risk for melanoma?
A. Individuals who have fair skin, moles or freckles, sunburn easily, or have a family history of skin cancer have a higher risk for melanoma. Spending excessive amounts of time in the sun or living in sunny or high-altitude climates also increases your risk. Although these factors may make a person more susceptible to melanoma, everyone is at risk. No matter your skin type or location, you should wear sunscreen, limit sun exposure, and be checked regularly by a physician.
Source:
Mayo Clinic
Q. How many people in the U.S. are diagnosed with melanoma each year?
I don’t know anyone who has melanoma so why should I be concerned?
A. Melanoma is one of the most common cancers in men and women ages 20-29, the sixth most common cancer in the U.S., and its incidence has continued to rise over the past three decades. It is estimated that 62,840 Americans were diagnosed with melanoma in 2008, one every eight minutes; and approximately 8,420 Americans will die of melanoma – one every hour. Based on rates from the past five years, it is estimated that 1 in 55 men and women born today will be diagnosed with melanoma of the skin at some point in their lifetime. Based on data from 9 NCI registries, investigators reported in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology that that the incidence of melanoma for young Caucasian women aged 15 to 39 increased by 50 percent between 1980 and 2004. That is why it is important for everyone to take preventative measures against melanoma.
Sources:
National Cancer Institute, Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results
NCI Cancer Bullitin