Cases of most deadly skin cancer soar to an all-time high
Cases of melanoma skin cancer are at an all-time high, with 20,800 people expected to be diagnosed this year in the UK.
Analysis by Cancer Research UK shows rates of melanoma have increased by almost a third over a decade, from 21 per 100,000 people between 2007-09 to 28per 100,000 between 2017-19.
The biggest rise was seen in those aged over 80, up 57%, while among those aged 25 to 49 there was a 7% increase.
The charity said around 17,000 melanoma cases every year are preventable, with almost nine in 10 caused by too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
UV from the Sun can damage DNA in skin cells and cause skin cancer. Sunbeds also expose users to high levels of radiation.
Cancer Research UK advises people spend time in the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm, cover up with clothes, a wide-brimmed hat, UV-protection sunglasses and a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and 4 or 5 stars, applied often.
Melanoma skin cancer symtoms
A new mole or a change in an existing mole may be signs of melanoma.
Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, but they’re more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun.
Be alert for moles:
- with an uneven shape or edges
- with a mix of colours
- that are large in size
- that change in size or shape over time, including those that are swollen and sore, bleeding, itchy or crusty
Source: NHS
The charity’s chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, said: ‘Survival from cancers, including melanoma, continues to improve, demonstrating the substantial progress made possible by research.
‘But it’s vital that people try to reduce their risk of getting the disease in the first place.
‘Make sure to take care in the Sun and contact your GP if you notice any unusual changes to your skin – whether a new or changing mole, a sore that doesn’t heal, or an area of your skin that looks out of the ordinary.
‘Spotting cancer early can make all the difference.’
According to the charity, younger people are more aware of the link between the Sun and skin cancer than those who are older, who may have taken advantage of the ‘cheap package holiday boom’ from the 1960s onwards.
Other factors driving up cases include a growing and ageing population and improved awareness of the symptoms of skin cancer.
The dangers of sunbeds
It isn’t just natural Sun that can cause skin cancer – sunbeds are also behind many cases.
Data released earlier this month by the charity Melanoma Focus revealed 28% of UK adults say they use sunbeds.
Mum of two Adele Hughes, who lives near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire, understands the dangers of sunbeds all too well.
Primary school teacher Adele was diagnosed with melanoma in December 2019 at the age of 39. Around her 40th birthday in January 2020, Adele was told the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. After six surgeries and 18 cycles of immunotherapy treatment for 14 months, Adele is today in remission. She has check-ups every six months at Albyn hospital in Aberdeen.
Adele, who as a teenager used sunbeds, is passionate about raising awareness to protect young people growing up today including her daughters Sienna, 12, and Elise, 10.
Adele, now 44, said: ‘I’d never wish anybody to go on that skin cancer journey.
‘I had two young children and being told I had cancer blindsided me. It felt terrifying and when I look back on months of treatment, I realise how difficult it has been. I’m currently under surveillance with scans but I’m almost three years cancer free.
‘I hope I can encourage people to think about their Sun habits, take precautions and to never use sunbeds.
‘As a mum, part of the routine in our house every morning is putting on sunscreen and we reapply sunscreen throughout the day so it remains effective. We need to educate parents and schools to get a message out there that it’s vital to protect your skin. That includes covering up with clothes, a wide brimmed hat and spending time in the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm.
‘Melanoma is something that we can prevent and I think there’s so many steps we can take to prevent this from happening to people in the future.’
Figures show, however, that more people are surviving melanoma, with deaths expected to continue to fall.
Almost nine in 10 adults diagnosed with melanoma in England will now survive their disease for a decade or more.
Dr Claire Knight, senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: ‘Getting sunburnt just once every two years can triple the risk of developing skin cancer, compared to never being burnt.
‘Whether you are enjoying the good weather abroad or here at home, it’s important to protect yourself from too much Sun, especially if you burn easily.
‘Remember that sunburn doesn’t only happen when it’s hot – it can happen on cooler or cloudier days too.
‘The best way to protect your skin when the Sun is strong is to use shade, clothing and sunscreen together.
‘Seek shade in the middle of the day, cover up with a shirt that covers your shoulders, a hat and sunglasses and wear sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and 4 or 5 stars. Make sure you put plenty on and reapply it regularly.’
Last month, experts told how the world’s first personalised mRNA cancer jab for melanoma – which also has the potential to stop lung, bladder and kidney cancer – is being tested in British patients.
The ‘gamechanger’ jab, which offers hope of a cure, is custom-built for each person in just a few weeks.
A stage 2 trial of the jab, involving pharma firms Moderna and MSD, found it dramatically reduced the risk of the cancer returning in melanoma patients.
A final phase 3 trial is now running, led by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).