On nearly 332,000 cases of skin melanoma worldwide in 2022, around 267,000 were caused by UV rays, 83%, assesses this study published in the International Journal of Cancer (IJC). This cancer caused 58,700 deaths that year.
The proportion of UV -related cases was higher in men (86%) than in women (79%), also noted the Circ in a press release.
Another observation: “The burden of skin melanoma differs considerably from one region of the world to another, due to the combination of different levels of exposure to UV rays and a risk of developing much higher skin melanoma in clear skin populations”, summarizes this specialized agency of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The regions displaying the highest rates of this cancer attributable to UV (more than 95%) were thus Australia/New Zealand, Northern Europe and North America.
While skin melanoma was “a rare disease in the past”, exposure increased to UV in recent decades -bronzing, traveling in regions with high radiation etc …, caused a sharp increase in cases of this pathology, especially in clear skin populations, has pointed to CIR.
And if the incidence rates in the youngest generations have decreased in many countries where rates were historically higher, growth and aging of the population should lead to a substantial net increase in the number of cases of skin melanoma diagnosed each year.
A recent projection anticipates more than 510,000 new cases and 96,000 deaths in 2040, an increase of 50% and 68% respectively, recalled the WHO agency.
However, “most cases of skin melanoma are avoidable”, underlined Oliver Langselius, the main author of the study, quoted in the press release, insisting in particular on “the urgent need to intensify public health efforts in terms of sun protection”, in particular in high -risk regions and among aging populations.
Melanoma, a serious skin tumor, looks like a mole but often with the following characteristics: asymmetry, irregular edges, several colors, magnification or change of appearance.
If the number of new cases per year has experienced a regular increase over the past two or three decades, screening has improved and new treatments have appeared.