There has been significant research on the demographics, the statistical characteristics of a population, of skin cancer around the world. The most commonly studied skin cancer is melanoma, since it is also the cancer that most aggressive and causes patients to seek out medical assistance. The actual number of cases of basal and squamous cell carcinoma is not as easily studied since they are often unnoticed by the individual. According to the National Cancer Institute there were an estimated one million new cases of nonmelanoma skin cancers in the United States in 2010 with less than 1,000 of those resulting in death.1
This number can easily be compared to those skin cancers that are classed as melanoma. There were approximately 53,600 new melanoma cancers diagnosed in the United States the year 2002 with approximately 7400 deaths due to melanoma in the same year. This corresponds to approximately 79% of all skin cancer related deaths, making melanoma less common but much deadlier than other types of skin cancers.2
Within different ages, genders, ethnic groups and even geographic locations there is considerable variation between the rates of all types of skin cancers. Typically people with white skin, especially fair hair and light colored eyes, tend to have the highest rate of melanoma of all ethnic groups. Those with darker skin are at lower risk; however there are some variations even within darker skinned ethnic groups.
Understanding skin cancer demographics can provide insight for people with a family history of skin cancers, people with atypical moles, individuals with risk factors or those living in specific geographic areas. This information is also essential information for the medical community to begin proactive dialogues with patients to minimize risk factors and provide support for routine self and doctor skin examinations for low to high risk individuals.
Gender
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that skin cancers, including melanoma and nonmelanoma, are the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in the United States. Although there are estimates of the number of nonmelanoma types of cancers per gender, there is no corresponding hard data collected. With melanomas men are much more likely to develop this cancer and die from the disease. In 2007 there were 33,041 men and 25,053 women diagnosed with reported deaths due to melanoma in the same year totaling 5,506 for males and 2,955 for females.3
In addition the CDC also reports that the trends for melanoma are changing over time. There was a 3.1% increase in rates for men and a 3.0% increase in rates for women from 1986 to 2006. In the same study the rates for melanoma were also higher by 2.7% and 3.3% for men and women respectively that were white. Deaths among men from melanoma have increased significantly by 2.0% in the short span of 2002 to 2006.4
Age
Age is a major factor in the statistical probability of being diagnosed with melanoma and skin cancers. Age is difficult to separate from other factors such as sun exposure since people that are older have also had more time outdoors, which is a recognized risk factor.
The National Cancer Institute reports in the SEER document, the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results, that age does have a factor in diagnosis. They report that the median age for diagnoses of melanoma between the years 2004 and 2008 was 60 for both men and women of all geographic areas and races in the United States combined. The specific breakdown by age groups includes:5
- 20 and under 0.7%
- 20-34 7.1%
- 35-44 11.2%
- 45-54 18.6%
- 55-64 20.9%
- 65-74 18.1%
- 75-84 16.9%
- Over 85 6.4%
Nonmelanoma cancer rates are assumed to follow similar trends although national study data is not available.
Ethnicity and Race
The research about cancer, specifically melanoma, is clear when it comes to the factors of race or ethnicity. People with lighter skin are much more likely to develop skin cancer than individuals with darker skin. White males have the highest adjusted incident rate at approximately 30.9 per 100,000 men. White women follow with 19.7 diagnosed cases per 100,000. Cultural groups with black skin, Africans and African-Americans, have the lowest incident rate with males at 1.2 per 100,000 and women at 0.9 per 100,000.5
Brown skinned groups including American Indians, Asians, Pacific Islanders and Hispanic individuals are in the middle of the high and low numbers. These numbers, although the research is United States based, is similar to other countries in the same geographic location of the globe. Overall white skinned people living closer to the equator and at higher altitudes are at greater risk for developing melanoma and skin cancers than darker skinned people living in the same area.6
Geographic Location
While age, race and ethnicity are major factors for individuals in determining the risk of developing skin cancers another critical factor to consider is geographic location. Australia has the highest rate of melanoma while Asia has the lowest in native population, which may be due to the high levels of white skinned people that immigrated to Australia.7 Interesting research in Australia on the development of melanoma in white immigrant populations has also demonstrated that people living in rural areas of the country are statistically more likely to develop melanoma than those living in urban environments. The researchers hypothesized that time spent outdoors, lifestyles and education on skin cancer prevention may be critical in this difference in the incidence rates.8
References
1 Skin Cancer. (n.d.). Retrieved from National Cancer Institute: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/skin
2 Melanoma Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from Melanoma Center: www.melanomacenter.org/basics/statistics.html
3 Skin Cancer Statistics. (2010, November 23). Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/statistics/index.htm
4 Skin Cancer Trends. (2010, November 2). Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control And Prevention: www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/statistics/trends.htm
5 SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Melanoma of the Skin. (2011). Retrieved from National Cancer Institute: seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.html
6 Skin Cancer Risk Factors. (n.d.). Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.com/health/skin-cancer/DS00190/DSECTION=risk-factors
7 Melanoma Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from Melanoma Center: www.melanomacenter.org/basics/statistics.html
8 Duncan, M. J. (2008). Geographical local and sunburn in Queensland adults. Australian Journal of Rural Health (16) , 181-182.
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