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Melanoma Rates Have Doubled Over Last Three Decades

11/06/2015

Melanoma Rates Have Doubled Over Last Three DecadesCapture d’écran 2015-06-11 à 10.49.58

According to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rates of new melanomas (deadly skin cancers) almost doubled between 1982 and 2011. However, the CDC also highlighted that “comprehensive skin cancer prevention programs could prevent 20 percent of new cases between 2020 and 2030.”

Melanoma is the most deadly type of skin cancer, which is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with 50 million patients receiving treatment each year.

The lead author of the study and director of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Lisa C. Richardson, MD, said: “The rate of people getting melanoma continues to increase every year compared to the rates of most other cancers, which are declining.

“If we take action now, we can prevent hundreds of thousands of new cases of skin cancers, including melanoma, and save billions of dollars in medical costs.”

Over 90 percent of melanoma skin cancers occur as a result of skin damage from ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure. So before you go rushing off to catch some sun rays, make sure you’re fully aware of the risks first.

If this rising melanoma trend continues, the annual cost of treatment is projected to be $1.6 billion by 2030, which is nearly triple the total spent in 2011 ($457 million).

Dr Richardson and team say that women aged between 15 and 49 are most likely to develop melanomas. Broad-spectrum sunscreens, wide-brimmed hats and protective lip balms are all recommended to prevent over exposure to UV rays this summer.

Capture d’écran 2015-06-11 à 10.50.06

 

Photo credits: Healthline

 
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