The incidence of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, is rising in Canada. People living in the south and coastal areas are most at risk, according to a new study led by McGill University.
Cutaneous melanoma causes more deaths than any other skin cancer, accounting for 1.9% of all cancer deaths in men and 1.2% in women in Canada. There were 290,000 new cases of this form of skin cancer worldwide in 2018.
Dr. Ivan Litvinov, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, McGill University
In Canada, the maritime provinces of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia have the highest incidence of melanoma in the country, even after adjusting for other factors such as age. Percentages in New Brunswick, Ontario and British Columbia were also high, but comparable to the national average of 20.75 cases per 100,000 people a year, while the prairie provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador had lower levels than the Canadian average. “The incidence of melanoma is not the same across Canada and there are some pockets in the country that are much more affected than others,” said Dr. Litvinov.
Skin cancer is higher among men and the elderly
The researchers published their findings in the journal Frontiers in Medicine and found that the incidence of melanoma was higher in men than in women – about 54 percent versus 46 percent, except for melanoma, which often occurs on the fingers (acral lentiginous melanoma ). “This is probably due to the higher exposure to ultraviolet radiation in nail salons,” says Dr. Litvinov. In men, skin cancer is more common in the trunk and head and neck. In women, this is more common in the legs and arms.
The incidence of melanoma is also higher in people over the age of 60. “The risk of skin cancer increases with age, probably due to accumulated exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or other artificial sources. But skin cancer can also be found in younger people. Factors such as genetics, personal history, where you live, all play at risk of exposure. “Sometimes melanoma can happen to a 60-year-old child due to sunburn, which they had in their teens, twenties and thirties,” said Dr. Litvinov.
Mortality in Canada is declining
Researchers note that although melanoma levels are rising, mortality is falling for the first time since 2013. This is probably due to new, targeted immunotherapeutic treatments, they say. However, the international picture remains more uncertain.
“Globally, there has been a 44% increase in melanoma levels over the years, with a corresponding death rate of 32%. The melanoma rate is likely to increase with climate change and ozone depletion,” said Dr. Litvinov.
Researchers say public education campaigns targeting people living in high-risk geographical areas are essential for preventing melanoma. These campaigns must also target men and women differently. “We need to encourage women to protect their legs and arms from the sun, while for men, sun exposure on the torso, head and neck is the main problem,” said Dr. Litvinov.
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