Substantially more than 1 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States every year.
Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are the two most common forms of skin cancer, but are easily treated if detected early.
Current estimates are that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
The incidence of melanoma has been steadily increasing for the past 30 years. Since 1992, melanoma has increased 3.percent annually in non-Hispanic Caucasians, but in recent years it is increasing more rapidly in young white women (3.8 percent since 1995) and men age 65 and older (8.8 percent since 2003).
Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old.
Melanoma is increasing faster in females 15-29 years old than males in the same age group. In females 15-29 years old, the torso is the most common location for developing melanoma, which might be due to high-risk tanning behaviors.
Melanoma in individuals 10-39 years old is highly curable, with five-year survival rates exceeding 90 percent.
One in 58 men and women will be diagnosed with melanoma during their lifetime. Caucasians and men older than 50 years of age are at a higher risk of developing melanoma than the general population.
It is estimated that there will be about 121,840 new cases of melanoma in 2009 53,120 noninvasive (in situ) and 68,720 invasive (39,080 men and 29,640 women).
One American dies of melanoma almost every hour (every 61 minutes). In 2009, 8,650 deaths will be attributed to melanoma 5,550 men and 3,100 women.
The World Health Organization estimates that as many as 65,161 people a year worldwide die from too much sun, mostly from malignant skin cancer.
People with more than 50 moles, atypical moles, or a family history of melanoma are at an increased risk of developing melanoma.
About 75 percent of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma.
The five-year survival rate for people whose melanoma is detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is 99 percent.
Five-year survival rates for regional and distant stage melanomas are 65 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
In 2004, the total direct cost associated with the treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer was $1.5 billion.
The American Cancer Society recommends a skin cancer-related checkup and counseling about sun exposure as part of any periodic health examination for men and women beginning at age 20.
Individuals with concerns of melanoma should have a full body exam at least annually and perform regular self-exams for new and changing moles.
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